Newspapers Affirm Qatar's Firm Position on Palestinian Cause

Doha, December 31 (QNA) - Qatari newspapers affirmed today the State of Qatar's firm position on the Palestinian cause, its historical support for the rights of the Palestinian people and their just cause. In their editorials, the newspapers highlighted the State of Qatar's strong condemnation and denunciation of the government of the Israeli entity's plans aimed at developing settlements and continuing attempts to Judaize the city of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque. In its editorial, Al Watan newspaper said that the position of the State of Qatar on the Palestinian issue has historically been characterized by principled and firm support for the rights of the Palestinian people, support for their just cause and continuous call for a peace process based on a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement based on international legitimacy, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the two-state solution, in a way that achieves security and stability in the region. It added that this firm position adopted by Qatar has not changed at any time, as it is based mainly on international covenants, and what the international community has agreed upon in terms of reaching a comprehensive solution to the conflict in accordance with the agreed terms of reference, the basis of which is the establishment of an independent state that meets the aspirations of the Palestinian people. The daily continued by saying that the State of Qatar expressed yesterday its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli government's plans for settlement expansion and continuing attempts to Judaize the city of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, considering them a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter, the principles of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, and a blatant assault on the rights of the Palestinian people, noting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed, in a statement, the State of Qatar's deep concern that the repeated Israeli violations would undermine international efforts aimed at implementing the two-state solution, and called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities to compel Israel to stop its settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian territories. For its part, Al Raya stressed the State of Qatar's firm and unchanged position towards the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, most notably the establishment of their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. The newspaper pointed out that the State of Qatar called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities to compel Israel to stop its settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian territories and warned that repeated Israeli violations would undermine international efforts aimed at implementing the two-state solution. In its editorial, Al Raya said that the commitments of the Israeli prime minister, upon assuming his powers officially, to expand settlement schemes reflect the fact that the Israeli entity does not believe in peace. It added what Netanyahu did upon his return to power in Israel reveals the expansionist occupation state's policy of swallowing more Palestinian lands and legitimizing its settlement outposts, which represent a deadly cancerous tumor that prevents the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. It stressed that the policy of turning a blind eye to Israeli practices and allowing the occupation authorities to implement everything that serves their expansionist goals gives the occupation government sufficient confidence to move forward with its plans aimed at imposing a fait accompli policy by force, as it accelerates the pace of settlement and the Judaization of Jerusalem to impose the temporal and spatial division in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque through the daily intrusions of settlers. The paper concluded its editorial by saying that the crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinians constitute a flagrant violation of humanitarian law, a matter which requires the international community, particularly the Security Council, to take immediate steps to stop this Israeli tampering with the security and stability of the region, because Israel, with its policies, confirms that it is an apartheid entity. These settlements cut off the West Bank and prevent the Palestinians from reaching their lands, and the planting of settlements in the occupied West Bank is a green light for settlers to continue their terrorist crimes against the Palestinians. So when will the conscience of the world wake up and do justice to the oppressed Palestinian people. Al Sharq said in its editorial today that the State of Qatar expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli government's plans to develop settlements and continue attempts to Judaize the city of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, considering this a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and the principles of International law and relevant United Nations resolutions and a blatant assault on the rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, which is a matter of great concern, especially with the escalation and recurrence of Israeli violations which lead to undermining international efforts aimed at implementing the two-state solution. The newspaper pointed out that the announcement of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu represents a dangerous escalation that will have devastating repercussions on security and stability in the region, a matter which requires the international community to assume its responsibilities and take the necessary measures to deter and curb the chaos of the government of the Israeli entity. It said the only truth that the international community and the occupation should realize is that there will be no security or stability in the region without an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and that the continuation of the situation in its current form without a clear horizon for a political process, which restores the legitimate rights to the Palestinians, heralds a new uprising that is difficult to predict its consequences. Al Sharq concluded its editorial by saying it seems that the Palestinian people are promised another more difficult year in light of Netanyahu's announcement that his new government's plans will work to strengthen settlements in the West Bank and continue the Judaization of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, which reinforces Palestinian, regional and international fears of an increase in settlement activity. (QNA)