Arab leaders reaffirmed yesterday their commitment to a two-state solution to the decades-long Arab-Israeli conflict.
Addressing the 28th Arab Summit  in the Dead Sea area in Jordan yesterday, HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani said that the Palestinian cause remains at the forefront of our priorities in spite of the fact that the peace process reached a deadlock due to the intransigent positions of the Israeli government, its breaches of its commitments and pledges and its attempts to impose a fait accompli, with intensifying building settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and the Judaisation of Jerusalem, which pose a threat to the regional and global stability and security.
“We are required to jointly and seriously act to put pressure on the international community and the Security Council to reject the inception of an apartheid system in the 21st century, and to deal firmly with Israel to force it to stop building settlements, implement international legitimacy resolutions, end the continuous violations against the Palestinian people and lift the unjust siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, which prevents its inhabitants from maintaining a normal life, and to get it to engage in time-bound serious negotiations based on clear-cut principles rather than negotiations for the sake of negotiations intended for baffling and time-wasting or exploiting that for building settlements.”
His Highness stressed that the firm stance of the State of Qatar on the Palestinian issue reflects the committed Arab stance that the peace process be based on a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement in accordance with international legitimacy and the Arab peace initiative based on the principle of a two-state solution to ensure the establishment of a Palestinian State on the borders of June 4, 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the right of return of the Palestinian refugees and ending the Israeli occupation of all Arab territories, including the Syrian Golan.
HH the Emir said unifying of the Palestinian ranks is an essential element in ending the occupation.
“There is no meaning and no point in a dispute over an authority that is devoid of sovereignty, in light of the occupation of the Palestinian territories, as no Palestinian State shall be founded without Gaza, and no State in Gaza shall be established either.
“Therefore, the State of Qatar is pursuing its efforts to end the state of division and restore unity to the national Palestinian action, in accordance with the Doha and Cairo accords.”
HH the Emir said the gravity of the stage that our pan-Arab homeland and the whole region are going through, and the obstacles on way of realising the aspirations of our peoples in development, security and stability require a lot from us in terms of realism, frankness, awareness, and conformity of words and deeds to spare our Arab ummah the dangers.
A genuine Arab solidarity is an auxiliary factor in achieving these aspirations, while its absence has negative effects.
“While welcoming the cease-fire agreement in Syria, we stress the significance of acting to make it real and not a selective one that allows for displacements, in order to alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Syrian people, ensure the safety of civilians and speed up human aid access, since a lasting and comprehensive cease-fire represents a step towards the desired political solution.
“We also firmly reassert that putting an end to the disaster of the brotherly Syrian people depends on adopting actions and decisions that bind the Syrian regime to implement the Geneva Conference (1) resolutions which stipulate the formation of a transitional governing body with full authorities, as well as the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy, which meet the aspirations of the Syrian people and allow them determine their future according to their choices.”
HH the Emir said the Syrian regime must be forced to implement Security Council Resolution 2336, which renewed the call to allow the humanitarian agencies rapid, safe and unhindered access to all areas in Syria.
He said that the situation in sisterly Libya makes it incumbent on us to intensify our efforts and to work together in accordance with a unified vision to urge the Libyan brethren and prompt them to surpass their disputes, and give priority to the supreme national interest to conclude the agreed steps of the Libyan political accord, which has gained a regional and international consensus, and continue to support the legitimate national reconciliation government to fulfil all its tasks in putting an end to the suffering of the brotherly Libyan people, confronting the threat of terrorist organisations and restoring security and stability to Libya.
“On the basis of the close brotherly ties between the State of Qatar and the brotherly State of Libya and its people, I affirm the commitment of the State of Qatar to continue supporting the Libyan brothers and helping them overcome their differences and make the path of political settlement a success.”
“Concerning Yemen, and as part of the Arab alliance, we reaffirm our commitment to the unity, territorial integrity and independence of Yemen, and our support for the constitutional legitimacy vested in His Excellency President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
“We also reaffirm our support for the mission of the United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen and the efforts to resume the political consultations to reach a political settlement according to the terms of reference of the Gulf Initiative, the Yemeni national dialogue outcomes and the resolutions of international legitimacy.”
His Highness said terrorism still remains as one of the most serious threats to our Arab region that target its security and stability.
Undoubtedly, confronting the perils of terrorist groups and adhering to our faiths and values without radicalism or exaggeration, and without abandonment or negligence, requires us to have a common vision to lead our efforts to promote co-operation, and work to find a joint comprehensive approach, in co-operation with the international community, which includes all political, security, social and cultural dimensions to eradicate this epidemic.
The summit’s host, King Abdullah of Jordan, said the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel remained the basis of any comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace deal.
“Israel is continuing to expand settlements and wreck chances of peace ... There is no peace or stability in the region without a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause through a two-state solution,” the king said.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas criticised Israeli policy in his speech to the summit.
“The Israeli government has since 2009 worked on wrecking the two-state solution by accelerating the tempo of settlements and the confiscation of land,” Abbas told the leaders.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also endorsed a two-state solution, telling summit participants this was the “only path to ensure that Palestinians and Israelis can realise their national aspirations and live in peace, security and dignity”.




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