The Gulf Cooperation Council condemns Israeli statements that deny the reality of the existence of the Palestinian people

UAE condemns Israel's decision to allow resettlement, tenders for new units

Israeli police officers try to arrest Palestinians in Huwwara yesterday. AFP

The UAE strongly condemned yesterday Israel's decision to allow resettlement in the northern areas of the West Bank, and tenders for the construction of new settlement units in the occupied Palestinian territories, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation affirmed in a statement the UAE's rejection of all practices that violate international legitimacy resolutions, which threaten further escalation and instability in the region.

The Ministry stressed the need to support all regional and international efforts to advance the Middle East peace process, as well as to put an end to illegal practices that threaten the two-state solution, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

In addition, the Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, confirmed that the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries sent a joint letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, condemning the statements of Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, removing the town of Huwara from existence, and his statements that deny the reality of the existence of the Palestinian people.

The Secretary General indicated that the message comes as an embodiment of the position of Their Majesties and Highnesses the leaders of the GCC countries, on the issue of Palestine, as it is the first cause of Arabs and Muslims, stressing what was stated in the final statement of the 155th session of the GCC Ministerial Council, which was held on March 22, regarding the GCC's support for the sovereignty of the Palestinian people over all Palestinian territories occupied since June 1967, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, guaranteeing all the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, and rejecting settlement in the Palestinian territories. occupied.

Al-Budaiwi said that the message included praise for the American position rejecting these statements, and their call on the United States of America to assume its responsibilities in responding to all measures and statements targeting the Palestinian people, and also urged the US administration to play its role to reach a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the conflict, based on the principles of international law and the Arab Peace Initiative, including the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Secretary-General stressed the GCC's condemnation of the escalating Israeli statements and violations against the Palestinian people, including the crimes recently committed in the city and camp of Jenin, and in the towns of Huwara, Burin, Asira al-Qibliya and others, which claimed the lives of a number of martyrs and dozens of wounded, the demolition of homes and the destruction of property, the violation of the sanctity of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, the targeting of the Palestinian presence in the city of Jerusalem, and attempts to change its legal character, demographic composition and arrangements for Islamic holy places.

For its part, the Palestinian presidency accused the Israeli government yesterday of trying to drag the region into violence and escalation by escalating its war against the Palestinian people, killing, burning, exterminating and incurring holy sites.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesman Nabil Abourdina held the Israeli government fully responsible for the ongoing dangerous escalation against the Palestinian people, their land and holy sites, and stressed that the regional and international parties that have sought and seek to prevent escalation and tension must intervene and curb the extremist government in Israel and pressure it to stop these escalating attacks in the month of Ramadan.

• The Palestinian presidency accuses the Israeli government of trying to drag the region into violence and escalation.