Foreign Minister takes part in Islamic Summit in Indonesia

Jakarta, March 7 (BNA): Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa took part in the fifth extraordinary session of the Islamic Summit on the State of Palestinian and Al Quds, which is being held in Jakarta, Indonesia, under the theme "United for a Just and Permanent Solution". The minister expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Republic of Indonesia’s president, government and people for hosting this summit, praising the efforts of the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Dr Iyad Ameen Madani for holding the summit. Shaikh Khalid affirmed that the State of Palestine has all the elements of a state, of a Government and people as well as well-defined land, despite the attempts to distort the facts, noting that what is happening in Al Quds, from the drilling operations to the displacement of the Palestinians from their homes, was sufficient to demonstrate the measures by the Israeli occupation authorities in their approach to empty Al Quds of the Palestinian people. He reiterated Bahrain's deep concern over the critical situation in the occupied Palestinian territories as a result of the long-standing Israeli military occupation and illegal practices, stressing the special sanctity of Al Quds to the followers of the three monotheistic religions and its great significance for all Muslims, calling on the international community to assume its responsibilities towards the issue of Palestine. A declaration issued by the fifth extraordinary Islamic Summit stressed the importance of the issue of the state of Palestine as the central cause of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and an end to the Israeli occupation of the Arab and Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including Al Quds, which is a constant demand of the Islamic Nation. It praised the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, in defending the Islamic holy places in Al Quds through the generous and continuous support to the Holy City, its institutions and its people. This is in addition to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan's efforts in dealing with the Israeli occupation, the attacks and violations, especially in Al Quds the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as the efforts of King Mohammed VI of Morocco, Chairman of the Al Quds Committee, in the protection of Muslim holy sites and responding to the measures taken by Israel to Judaize the holy city, and support the role of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds, under the Al Quds Committee. The declaration stressed the pivotal role of member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to take all necessary measures at all levels to provide protection for the Palestinian people and the preservation of the sanctity of Al Quds as well as decided to take all possible measures with the rest of the international community to put an end to provocations and deliberate attacks by the occupying power on the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The summit called on member states and the international community to broadly prohibit illegal Israeli settlements’ products in their markets and take measures against individuals and entities involved or beneficiaries of the promotion of occupation and settlements policy. It supported holding an international peace conference to end the Israeli occupation, as a key step toward ending the Israeli occupation. Calling on member states of the Organization to stand behind the Palestine and Al Quds cause as a key issue in international forums, and urged member states to fulfill their obligations to provide the necessary support and aid to the Palestinian efforts to join international organizations and treaties. (MOFA)