The Arab League Council at the level of foreign ministers endorsed at the end of its extraordinary meeting, held today in Cairo, the Arab action plan to end the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian state territories, through submission of the Arab draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Meanwhile, consultations on this matter will continue with the Member States of the UNSC at the regional, continental and international groups.
The Council, tasked in its resolution issued at the conclusion of its extraordinary session under the chairmanship of Mauritania and the presence of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Secretary -General of the Arab League, Nabil El Araby, an open ended ministerial delegation led by Kuwait, the chair of the Arab Summit and the Arab Peace Initiative Committee and the membership of Mauritania, Chair of the Arab League Council, Jordan, the Arab member at the UN Security Council, the State of Palestine and the Secretary General of the Arab League, to establish contacts and step up visits to mobilize international support for the Arab draft resolution before the Security Council.
The Council supported the effort the state of Palestine to join the institutions and international conventions, treaties and protocols, including joining the International Criminal Court, affirming adherence to the Arab peace initiative put forward by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, endorsed at the Beirut Summit of 2002. It added that the initiative is still the best solution to resolve the Palestinian issue, and poses positive interaction with initiatives seeking to resume negotiations, end the occupation and establish a Palestinian state on the basis of this initiative.
It stressed the continuation of joint Arab action to ensure international recognition of the state of Palestine with its capital East Jerusalem on the 1967 borders by countries that have not recognized yet. The Council welcomed the Sweden's decision to recognize the state of Palestine, the recommendations of the British, Irish and Spanish parliaments in this respect. It also recommended the move of the French parliament.The Council declared its absolute rejection to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. It also rejects all the pressures exerted on the Palestinian leadership in this regard. The Council condemned all the Israeli measures to enshrine the so-called "Jewish state" and warns of danger of this dangerous racial orientation on the Palestinian people and the region, and its consequences.
It condemned the Israel's practices and all temporal and spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Council denounces repeated attacks of Israeli extremists on the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, a move seen as a threat for outbreak of "religious war", more violence and chaos in the region.
The Council affirmed rejection and condemnation of the illegitimate Israeli settlement activities, especially in the occupied East Jerusalem, including attempts to Judaize the city and obliterate the historical, cultural, humanitarian aspects to change of its identity.
It welcomed the statement issued by the members of the Security Council, including the United States, during the emergency special session held upon the request of Jordan on 29th October to discuss the implications of the Israeli decision to build new settlements in East Jerusalem.
The Council stressed to continue the Arab move in all the capitals of the world to support the request of the state of Palestine submitted to the Swiss government as the depositary of the Geneva Four Charters of 1949 to call on the High Contracting Parties to enforce and respect the international conventions in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem, and to provide protection for the Palestinian people.
It expressed its appreciation for the efforts of the Arab ministerial delegation headed by Kuwait with the Swiss government to convene an urgent meeting of the High Contracting Parties.The Council stressed the support of the Palestinian national unity government under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas and thanked the Arab Republic of Egypt for its efforts to stop the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the donors' conference for the reconstruction of Gaza in Cairo on 12th October last year . It called on states that have made commitments in this regard to meet their pledges.
It reiterated its rejection and condemnation to the Israeli government measures to undermine the government of national reconciliation, including the conversion of the Palestinian tax revenue funds.
The Council also reiterated the need for a financial safety net to provide $100 million a month for the government of national reconciliation and to enable it enhance the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestine in the face of all Israeli actions. It thanked the countries that have fulfilled their obligations in the financial safety net and asked other countries to quickly meet their pledges.
The Council commended the efforts of King Abdullah II of Jordan on the sponsorship of the sanctities in Jerusalem to stop the grave Israeli violations, and the rejection of all Israeli attempts to prejudice this care and custody of the Hashemite.
It also affirmed its support for the efforts of the Kingdom of Morocco on chairing the Group of Islamic Ministerial Conference to establish contacts on the benefit of Jerusalem, Palestine and preparedness of the Arab League to coordinate with the group to achieve the desired objectives in this regard.
The Council welcomed the decision issued by UNESCO. It was jointly presented by Jordan and Palestine, with Arab and Islamic support last month to follow up and monitor the Israeli daily violations in East Jerusalem.
It stressed the need to send an observer mission through UNESCO to Jerusalem to monitor the violations. The Council decided to remain in permanent session to follow up the developments in this respect.