DHAHRAN, April 15, 2018 (WAFA) - King Abdullah II of Jordan Sunday opened the 29th Arab League Summit in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, affirming the eternal right of Palestinians to Jerusalem and Arab leaders’ adherence to the Arab Peace Initiative, while rejecting any actions to change the historical and legal status of Jerusalem.
King Abdullah II affirmed that Jerusalem is the key to peace in the region and the cornerstone for achieving a comprehensive solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital; based on the two-state solution and the Arab Peace Initiative.
He said that the Palestinian commitment to the two-state solution and renunciation of violence is a clear evidence of their firm commitment to peace. “It is our collective duty to stand with them and to support their steadfastness in their struggle to gain their legitimate rights to independent statehood, and to living in peace and security.
King Abdullah said, “It is our duty and our shared responsibility as an Arab group, and it is the duty of the international community to provide the necessary support for Palestinian refugees, and to work towards enabling the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to continue to provide its humanitarian and social services until a fair and just solution is reached to the cause of refugees.”
The king stressed that any obstruction of the vital services of UNRWA will negatively impact over 5 million Palestinian refugees in the region.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman stressed his rejection to the US decision on Jerusalem as capital of Israel, hailing the international opposition to the US decision.
The king affirmed that the Palestinian issue is a top Arab priority and will remain so until the Palestinian people regain their legitimate rights and establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Saudi King named the current 29th Arab League Summit the ‘Jerusalem Summit’.
He also announced that Saudi Arabia has allocated $50 million in support of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and $150 million in support of the Islamic Endowment (Waqf) in Jerusalem.
The 29th Arab Summit kicked off on Sunday at King Salman Abdul-aziz International Cultural Center in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, with the participation of Arab leaders and high-ranking official delegations.
President Mahmoud Abbas, along with a number of Palestinian senior officials, arrived at King Abdulaziz Air Base in Dhahran city, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday to participate in the summit.
T.R
