Chairing this meeting, devoted to examining the actions to be undertaken at the Arab level in order to put an end to the escalation in the Palestinian territories and to stop targeting civilians, Mr. Bourita expressed Morocco’s readiness to adhere to any Arab and international effort aimed at achieving the aspirations of the Palestinian people for the establishment of an independent state with East Al Quds as its capital on the borders of June 4, 1967, in accordance with the two-state solution as agreed at the international level.
HM the King has always stressed that the security of the Middle East and its stability require good offices and intense and continuous efforts to move away from the logic of conflict and violence to make prevail that of peace, cooperation and the building of a prosperous space for all the peoples of the region, he insisted.
He also reiterated the full and constant support of the Kingdom of Morocco for the State of Palestine and its legitimate national authority under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas Abou Mazen for the defense of the rights of the Palestinian people and the realization of their aspirations for freedom, independence and a dignified life.
Mr. Bourita stressed the commitment of the Kingdom of Morocco, under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, to a just and comprehensive peace in accordance with the resolutions of international legality as an inevitable strategic choice.
“The bloody and horrific events that broke out on Saturday, October 7, 2023, and the unprecedented violence that accompanied them show that the region is facing an unprecedented situation that could lead the conflict into a phase with unpredictable repercussions and fuel a discourse of appalling systematic extermination,” he added.
He noted that His Majesty the King has consistently warned against the danger of blocking the political perspective of the Palestinian cause and continuing violations and unilateral measures in Al-Quds and the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Sovereign, the minister stressed, also warned that these unacceptable actions fuel extremism, nourish the culture of violence, stir up conflict, undermine efforts at appeasement, and torpedo the prospect of the two-state solution as well as the chances of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.
Mr. Bourita indicated that upon the High Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, the Kingdom of Morocco, in its capacity as President of the 160th session of the Council of the Arab League at the ministerial level, convened an emergency meeting for consultation and coordination on the deterioration of the situation in the Gaza Strip and the outbreak of military acts targeting civilians, in addition to examining ways to put an end to this dangerous escalation.
The Minister presented on this occasion four axes serving as a road map in the face of the deterioration of the situation in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, stressing in this regard the need to spare no effort to achieve appeasement and put an end to the bloodshed through collective or individual action with the active international forces aimed at immediately stopping the clashes and reducing the escalation, while working to protect civilians, prevent them from being targeted and put an end to provocations and unilateral actions, in order to prevent the situation from degenerating and getting out of control.
He stressed in the same context the importance of assessing the urgent health and humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip and the rest of the affected Palestinian territories, and planning an emergency meeting of the Council of Arab Health Ministers to address these needs.
Mr. Bourita also urged the international parties sponsoring the peace process, including the International Quartet, to begin genuine consultations aimed at relaunching the peace process in order to develop a roadmap with practical objectives, including a timetable for initiating serious negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis with a view to agreeing on the final formula for a solution to the Palestinian question, in accordance with international and Arab benchmarks.
The Minister also stressed the importance of strengthening the negotiation capacity of the Palestinian brothers by accelerating the process of national reconciliation, ending discord and ensuring that the supreme Palestinian interest prevails, urging the Arab Republic of Egypt to continue its sustained efforts to achieve an effective and lasting Palestinian reconciliation.
The Council of the League of Arab States at the level of foreign ministers had adopted a resolution demanding an immediate end to the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip and its surroundings and calling on all parties to exercise restraint.
The resolution warned of “the catastrophic humanitarian and security repercussions of the continuation and extension of the escalation”, calling for urgent and effective action to enforce international law, guarantee the security of the region and its stability against the risk of expansion of the cycle of violence for which everyone will pay the price.
The Arab Foreign Ministers condemned, in the same context, the killing of civilians on both sides and expressed their categorical rejection of any action targeting them, while stressing the imperative of ensuring their protection, in accordance with universal human values and in compliance with international humanitarian law and the law of war.
2024-08-27 03:21:31