King Mohammed VI has reaffirmed Morocco’s firm support to the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish their independent Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital – a state living in peace and security alongside the State of Israel.
In a message sent to Chairman of UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the Monarch said peace and stability in the Middle East hinges on resolving the issue of Palestine, the longest-lasting dispute in the world.
Security and stability in the region requires relentless efforts to break free from the logic of conflict and embrace, instead, peace and cooperation for the emergence of a prosperous space for all the peoples concerned, underlined the Sovereign.
“The current deadlock in the political process between the Palestinian and Israeli sides does not promote the peace we are yearning for in the region’’, underlined the Monarch.
Yet, “I encourage the positive signs and commendable initiatives undertaken to rebuild confidence and launch meaningful negotiations that help achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions, and the two-State solution, which is a realistic option”, said the King.
“I firmly believe that the initiatives designed to foster prosperity in the region – as essential as they may be – will remain insufficient, given the nature of the protracted conflict, which is now threatening the future of the generations to come”, added the Moroccan Sovereign.
The absence of a favorable political outlook for the Palestinian cause, coupled with the unilateral measures which undermine the prospects for peace, have allowed extremist players to continue desecrating holy sites and spreading a culture rooted in violence and hatred, deplored King Mohammed VI.
The Holy City of al-Quds al-Sharif holds a special place in the hearts and minds of Arab and Moslem peoples, given the spiritual and ideological symbolism of the city. Furthermore, it is one of the final status issues that need to be resolved through direct negotiations, said the Monarch.
“As Chairman of the OIC’s Al-Quds Committee, I call for the preservation of the legal, cultural and religious status of the Holy City as a common heritage of mankind, as a land of encounter, and as a symbol of peaceful coexistence between the followers of the three monotheistic religions”, added the King.
He recalled in this regard the projects carried out by the Bayt Mal al-Quds al-Sharif Agency in the housing, health, education and social sectors for the benefit of al-Quds inhabitants. The goal is aim to preserve the cultural identity of the Holy City, improve the social and living conditions of its inhabitants and support their steadfast struggle.
The efforts and initiatives undertaken by Morocco in support of the Palestinian cause attest to a sincere, continuous commitment, which is accompanied by concrete measures on the ground, said the King, noting that the Moroccan contributions are highly appreciated and praised by the leadership and people of Palestine.
He also called on all Palestinian stakeholders to work as one team in order to build strong Palestinian institutions under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas to achieve the aspirations of Palestinian people for freedom, independence and a life of dignity.