Qatar has reiterated its firm stance on the Palestinian issue at the emergency ministerial meeting held at the headquarters of the Arab League here on Saturday.

Addressing the meeting, HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi, spelt out Qatar’s position which is in line with that of the Arab League.

The Arab position is committed to establishing the peace process for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement based on international laws that maintains all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. This takes into consideration the Palestinians' right to self-determination, the establishment of their independent state on the borders that existed on June 4, 1967, with its capital in East Jerusalem, the return of refugees in accordance with international resolutions and the terms of reference of the peace process, foremost of which is the principle of the two-state solution.

In his address HE al-Muraikhi said that Qatar will spare no effort to support the efforts of the Palestinians to restore their legitimate and complete rights.

He called on the Palestinian people to adhere to the option of unity, prioritise their supreme interest and achieve national reconciliation, in a way that achieves cohesion and unity of the Palestinian people as the best way in their struggle to obtain their legitimate rights.

The minister said that Saturday's meeting was held during a crisis situation in the history of the Palestinian issue – which is the central issue of the Arabs – “which necessitates collective action for us to formulate Arab positions capable of carrying out their responsibilities towards the Arab fateful issues, especially the Palestinian question”.

He said that the desire to achieve peace represents a feeling and aspiration among all people of the world, and there is no doubt that the absence of a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue and the Arab-Israeli conflict constitutes a grave threat to international peace and security.

HE al-Muraikhi added that the foundations of the solution are clear and had been expressed by the Arab peace initiative, which provides a general framework that provides the best way for all parties to negotiate on its basis.

The minister noted that the success of any existing or future initiative to resolve this conflict that has lasted for more than seven decades will be dependent on the involvement of the two main parties of the conflict in serious and direct negotiations based on international resolutions and a specific timetable to end the Israeli occupation of all Palestinian and Arab lands.


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