ISTANBUL, May 18, 2018 (WAFA) – Minister of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs Riyad al-Malki told the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Istanbul on Friday that Palestine did not choose to engage in a standoff with the United States, but was forced to do so as a result of the US administration’s behavior and discourse.

“Palestine did not choose a standoff with the US. However, the behavior and discourse of the US administration, including its assaults on Jerusalem and our [Palestinian] rights, have forced us into this standoff,” he told the foreign ministers of the OIC convening in Istanbul.

He continued, “Palestine will defend itself and will continue to use all the available diplomatic and legal means to defend our people, our national rights and our holy places.”

Al-Malki said by relocating its embassy to occupied Jerusalem, the US has shown a disregard to the rights of the Palestinian people and to the oppression they have been suffering.

The foreign minister called on the OIC to support any future Palestinian political, legal or diplomatic action in international organizations to bring Israeli perpetrators to justice, as well to form an investigation committee into the atrocities committed by Israeli forces since March 30.

Al-Malki said since the US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that called for creating an independent investigation committee into the recent Israeli atrocities, Palestine had no choice but to seek action in all UN agencies to investigate these crimes.

He said time has come for the OIC countries to boycott and condemn the US Congress “because it has acted with hostility towards the Palestinian people and Jerusalem.”

“It is time to act, because US actions pose several strategic threats to our collective rights. We must confront these threats.”

M.N