Al Mayadeen obtains draft statement for Riyadh summit
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Arab and Islamic leaders gathered in Saudi Arabia's capital of Riyadh will call for the cessation of Israeli aggression, respect of the sovereignty of Arab and Mulsim countries, and the independence of the state of Palestine.
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Muslims take part in Friday prayers in the shadow of the Dome of the Rock Mosque in the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of al-Quds, occupied Palestine, Friday, August 2, 2024. (AP)
The Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, issued a draft resolution in solidarity with Palestine. The text, obtained by Al Mayadeen on Monday, underscored unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and the defense of Arab-Islamic identity in the region.
The resolution reaffirmed the centrality of the Palestinian issue, asserting the continued backing of Arab and Islamic nations for Palestine's lawful rights.
It emphasized the importance of safeguarding the sanctity of East al-Quds, labeling the city a "red line" for the Arab and Islamic world. The draft resolution also strongly rejected Israeli measures aimed at Judaizing East al-Quds, describing such actions as an effort to cement the occupation and colonial control over the city.
A key element of the resolution was the assertion of Palestine's full sovereignty over East al-Quds, which is recognized as the eternal capital of Palestine. The document further highlighted that the Palestinian cause is inseparable from all other global struggles for freedom, particularly those of people resisting occupation.
The summit reaffirmed the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, advocating for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the borders of June 4, 1967, with East al-Quds as its capital. It also called for the implementation of the Right to Return for Palestinian refugees, in accordance with UN Resolution 194, as a critical component of a just solution to the conflict.
All-around Israeli violations
In addition to these statements of support for Palestine, the resolution extended solidarity to Lebanon, affirming the Arab World's commitment to the Lebanese Republic's security, stability, sovereignty, and the protection of its citizens. The draft resolution stressed the collective responsibility to defend both the religious sanctity of al-Quds and the sovereignty of Lebanon in the face of external threats.
The summit called on the international community to implement all aspects of the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on July 19.
The resolution condemned the Israeli occupation forces' practice of enforced disappearances against thousands of Palestinian civilians since the beginning of the aggression. It also denounced the horrific war crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza, framing them as part of a larger genocide campaign.
The draft resolution demanded an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. It also warned of the dangers posed by the violations of Syrian and Iranian sovereignty at the hands of the Israeli occupation, emphasizing the indifference of the international community and the failure of international legitimacy to address these breaches.
The resolution further called on the UN Security Council to adopt a binding decision under Chapter VII, compelling the Israeli occupation to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza. Additionally, it reiterated the international consensus that the State of Palestine is qualified for full membership in the United Nations.
In closing, the summit expressed its support for the efforts of Egypt and Qatar in cooperation with the United States to broker a prisoner exchange and ceasefire deal in Gaza and Lebanon.
Extraordinary Arab Islamic Summit
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan announced the summit in late October, during the first meeting of an international alliance pushing for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Attendees will "discuss the continued Israeli aggression on the Palestinian territories and the Lebanese Republic, and the current developments in the region," the official Saudi Press Agency said on Sunday.
Arab and Muslim leaders began to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
It comes one year after a similar gathering in Riyadh of the Cairo-based Arab League and the Jeddah-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) during which leaders condemned Israeli forces' actions in Gaza as "barbaric".
The attendees included leaders from Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, Turkiye, Iran, and the Arab League, who went on to discuss key topics including regional sovereignty, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and potential international responses to the Israeli occupation's actions.
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
