Decision on Palestine and the Middle East

DECISION ON PALESTINE AND THE MIDDLE EAST

DOC. EX.CL/273 (IX)

The Executive Council:

1. RECALLS all Resolutions and Decisions adopted by the OAU/AU on the situation in Palestine and the Middle East;

2. REITERATES its full solidarity with and support to the Palestinian people, and its legitimate struggle, under the leadership of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), the sole and legitimate representative in the exercise of their inalienable national rights, including their right to self- determination, return to their land and recover their property, and to live in peace and dignity in an independent Palestinian State with Al-Quds as its capital;

3. REAFFIRMS ITS SUPPORT for the peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in accordance with the principles of international law, all UN Security Council and General Assembly Resolutions, especially UN Resolution 194, pertinent resolutions of the OAU/AU, the Arab peace initiative as adopted by the Summit of the League of Arab States in 2002, and the Quartet Committee’s Road Map;

4. COMMENDS the leadership role of the Chairman of the Executive Committee of Palestinian Liberation Organization, aimed at pursuing the democratic process and in the conduct of the Palestinian Parliamentary Election in a peaceful and transparent manner;

5. URGES the Israeli government to halt all unilateral measures, especially the Olmert’s disengagement Plan that could create new facts on the ground and to react positively to the calls of the Chairman of the Executive Committee of PLO aimed at resuming the final status negotiations as soon as possible;

6. CALLS UPON the two parties to refrain from any act of violence and to honour their commitments and the agreements reached between them, and abide by the peace initiatives so as to attain a lasting, just and comprehensive peace in the region;

7. ALSO CALLS UPON the international community and the Quartet to continue providing the necessary political and financial support to the Palestinian People and its legitimate leadership, and refrain from using assistance and aid as a pressure tool against the Palestinian people; and URGES the International Community to continue its efforts in the quest for reinvigorating the negotiations and to salvage the peace process;

8. DEEPLY DEPLORES the critical humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, due to Israeli policy of incessant border closures and blockades of movement of Palestinians ;

9. DENOUNCES the Israeli measures of withholding VAT fees and customs dues intended for the Palestinian Authority which has negative consequences on the PNA’s operational capabilities and the increasing unemployment rate and poverty levels in the Palestinian Territories, which has also negatively affected the Palestinian society, security and stability in the region;

10. STRONGLY CONDEMNS the Israeli occupation and denounces its repressive practices and policies perpetrated against defenseless Palestinians, especially the aggression and atrocious assaults committed by the Israeli forces on June 9 and 13, 2006 against innocent Palestinians on the beach and middle of Gaza Strip, which is considered as a criminal massacre against humanity; and URGES the Israeli government to immediately cease such activities that are in violation of International law and the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949;

11. FURTHER URGES the government of Israel to stop the continuous settlements activities and the construction of the Apartheid Wall in the occupied Palestinian Territories, around and inside Al-Quds town; and CALLS UPON the government of Israel to stop the modifications and measures aimed at altering the status of occupied Jerusalem, which could jeopardize the peace process and any hope of achieving a lasting, just and comprehensive peace in the region;

12. EXPRESSES GRAVE CONCERN at the invasion and ongoing detention campaigns against civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the miserable living conditions inside Israeli jails; and CALLS UPON the International Community to work towards release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees;

13. EXPRESSES DEEP CONCERN over the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip as a result of the Israeli incursion into the Southern part of the Strip and the use of force by the Israeli troops. DEMANDS an immediate stop to these measures and CALLS FOR self-restraint and use of peaceful means and dialogue to give the diplomatic efforts a chance.

14. FURTHER CALLS UPON the government of Israel to put an end to its occupation of all Arab lands occupied since 1967, and comply with the relevant UN Security Council 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, peaceful and acceptable solution to the Arab-Israeli Conflict;

15. APPEALS to the Palestinian Leadership and all other factions to resolve their differences and close their ranks so as to present a united front in the negotiations and the Quartet Road Map Plan for peace that will usher in an independent and sovereign state of Palestine;

16. TAKES NOTE of the efforts deployed by the Committee of Ten (10) Member States on Palestine established by Decision AHG/Dec.182 (XXXVIII), in July 2002, and CALLS for continued efforts in the quest for a lasting, just, comprehensive peace in Palestine and the Middle East.