Egypt, OIC condemn Israeli plan to build rail road in east Jerusalem

Egyptian President Mohammad Morsi on Wednesday sent a letter to Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanaglu on the latest Israeli violations in the occupied city of Jerusalem. The letter denounces the French recent court ruling in favor of the French companies taking part in the controversial project, according to the a statement by the Egyptian Presidential Office. President Morsi, in his capacity as the current President of the OIC, expressed profound regret over the ruling which stipulates that Israel did not violate international law by building a light rail line in East Jerusalem. Similarly, Prof. Ihsanaglu reacted angrily to the move which, he said, disregards fundamental provisions of the international laws and the Geneva Conventions, according to the statement. The OIC chief stressed opposition to any move by an Israeli government of non-government body to legalize the Israeli occupation of the city in contravention of the international laws, the statement added. On March 22 the Versailles Court of Appeals rejected a lawsuit filed in 2007 by the Palestine Liberation Organization and the France-Palestine Solaridite association against three French firms that participated in the project. The claimants hold the firms responsible for human rights and international law violations.