Decision on the Middle East and Palestine

DECISION ON THE MIDDLE EAST AND PALESTINE
DOC.EX.CL/196 (VII)

1. RECALLS all relevant resolutions and decisions adopted by the OAU/AU on the situation in the Middle East and Palestine;

2. REITERATES its continued full support and solidarity to the Palestinian people in their just and legitimate struggle, under the leadership of PLO, their sole and legitimate representative in the exercise of their inalienable national rights, including their right to self-determination, to return and the establishment of an independent state on their national soil, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the principles of international law and other pertinent resolutions of the OAU/AU and UN;

3. REAFFIRMS its firm support for an internationally promoted solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, the Arab Peace initiative and the Road Map which remains the only viable plan for lasting, just, and comprehensive peace in the region to bring an end to the occupation that began in 1967 with the achievement of the vision of two States, Israel and an independent, sovereign and territorially contiguous Palestine, living side by side, in peace and security;

4. WELCOMES the understanding between the Palestinian and Israeli sides in Sharm al-Sheik (Egypt), aimed at the cessation of violence between both sides as a first important step towards the implementation of the Road Map and Urges the concerned parties to implement their commitments in order to create the necessary conditions to resume negotiations, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces to September 2000 positions and the release of prisoners;

5. FURTHER WELCOMES the practical and courageous steps that have been taken by the Palestinian leadership, especially the holding of democratic municipal elections, the reform and streamlining of Palestinian security forces, and the conduct of a national dialogue with Palestinian factions;

6. CALLS UPON both sides to stop the vicious cycle of violence against the Palestinian and Israeli civilians, in accordance with all commitments and peace initiatives, especially the Roadmap for Palestine Sovereign Independence and the recent Sharm Al Sheik understandings;

7. STRONGLY CONDEMNS the Israeli repressive measures perpetrated against defenseless Palestinian civilians, including arrests and detentions, the widespread and arbitrary destruction of property and infrastructure’ and official and public institutions, as well as the severe restrictions which has had a devastating impact on the Palestinian society and economy;

8. URGES the government of Israel to cease these excessive and indiscriminate retaliatory actions;

9. CALLS UPON the Government of Israel to put an end to the construction of the Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory including East Jerusalem, which constitutes a breach by Israel of legal obligations under international law, including International Humanitarian Law, and URGES compliance with the 9 July 2004 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice and General Assembly resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004;

10. URGES Israel to drop its policy of imposing dictates and creating facts on the ground by immediately putting an end to the establishment and expansion of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem;

11. STRONGLY CONDEMNS all Israeli modifications and illegal measures aimed at altering the status of the Occupied East Jerusalem, including Israeli destruction of Jerusalemite houses, the threats of Israeli extremists to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque and Israel's continuous construction of the Wall and expansion of settlements in and around East Jerusalem, including the illegal West Bank settlement of "Ma¹ ale Adumim" that will severely undermine the efforts for the establishment of the future State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital;

12. APPEALS to the International Community and the Quartet to provide necessary political and financial support and to work with the Palestinian Leadership for the early and accelerated implementation of the Roadmap and to undertake necessary measures to reinvigorate dialogue and negotiations, in order to salvage the peace process;

13. CALLS UPON the Government of Israel, to put an end to its occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights and Lebanese Shabaa Farms occupied in 1967, in accordance with the UN Security Council relevant resolutions including Resolutions 242 and 338, the Madrid Declaration, the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace initiative and the Road Map in order to reach a just, comprehensive and peaceful solution of the Arab Israeli conflict;

14. TAKES NOTE of the initial efforts deployed by the Committee of 10 Member States on Palestine established by Decision HG/Dec.182 (XXXVIII), in July 2002, and URGES continued efforts in the quest for a peaceful and acceptable solution to the conflict in the Middle East and Palestine;

15. URGES the Commission to maintain contact with the Israelis and the Palestinians, and to continue to support on-going efforts so that the objective of peace and development can be achieved for the well being of their people.