King reiterates Palestinian cause is key to Mideast peace, stability
Shaheennews –
His Majesty King Abdullah has reaffirmed that the Palestinian cause is key to peace and stability in the Middle East.
In a letter to the chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Cheikh Niang, on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People marked annually on 29 November, King Abdullah stressed the importance of resolving all final status issues especially Jerusalem and the right of return and compensation for Palestinian refugees through serious negotiations within a comprehensive framework based on international law and relevant UN resolutions.
His Majesty said in the letter that comprehensive and lasting peace remains Arabs’ strategic option, citing the Arab Peace Initiative endorsed by all Arab countries and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
There is no alternative to the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, the King reaffirmed.
His Majesty stressed that all settlement activities by Israel are illegal, including the appropriation of land and the demolishing of Palestinian property, noting that they impede efforts to implement the two-state solution.
The King emphasised that the commitment to preserving the historical Arab, Islamic, and Christian identity of Jerusalem and to the Hashemite Custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in the city is a duty and responsibility that Jordan is proud to carry.
Jordan will persist in upholding these responsibilities so that Jerusalem remains a unifying city of peace rather than cause for division, His Majesty added, noting that the Kingdom will also continue working to counter any attempts to impose new facts on the ground or alter the historical and legal status quo in the holy city.
The King continued in the letter that sustaining the relief, educational, and health services of UNRWA is a priority for stability and prosperity in the region.
Any attempts to limit or reduce UNRWA’s role and humanitarian services would threaten the rights of over 5 million refugees guaranteed by UN resolutions, foremost of which is United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194, His Majesty said.
Jordan has been working with international partners to ensure the sustainability of UNRWA’s services, in accordance with its UN-set mandate, by galvanising support for the agency, the King noted.
His Majesty stressed the important role of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in highlighting the vital role of UNRWA and the humanitarian dimensions of this issue to reach sustainable solutions that enable this agency to undertake its duties.
The King also commended the committee’s efforts to counter attempts to undermine or deny the rights of the Palestinian people.
