Al-Quds Judaization does not serve peace, King Mohammed VI says
Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 2/14/2000

King Mohammed VI on Monday said the Judaization of the holy city of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) will not serve peace and will not provide an atmosphere of security and stability in the region.

The Israeli measures meant to Judaize Al-Quds and alter its geographic and demographic character "will not serve peace and will not provide an atmosphere of security and stability" in the region, King Mohammed VI said in an address at the opening session of the governing board of Bait Mal Al-Quds (Jerusalem fund), currently held in Marrakesh.

The board is debating a one-year emergency plan worth $40 million to carry out a series of health, education and housing projects to support the resistance of the city inhabitants and help them remain on their land.

King Mohammed VI --Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, stemming from the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)-- underlined that Al-Quds is not the cause of the Islamic Ummah (Nation) alone. It is the cause of the Islamic and Christian worlds alike, he said.

The Judaization attempts targeting the Islamic institutions and identity of Al-Quds, which has been throughout history, a land of meeting and cohabitation between religions, civilizations and cultures, also threaten the Christian shrines, the king said.

History, written in various languages, stands as witness that the Muslims were the symbol of tolerance and coexistence, based on the respect of the people of the book, he recalled, adding that, "The Al-Quds issue has a religious dimension, because it has been throughout time a heaven open onto all revealed religions."

The Al-Quds issue, which also has a political dimension, required the setting up of a special committee, namely the Al-Quds Committee stemming from the OIC and chaired by the King of Morocco, he said insisting that he will spare no effort to enable the Committee fulfill its tasks successfully.

King Mohammed VI had handed to Palestinian president Yasser Arafat a donation of $3 million for Bayt Mal Al-Quds.

The fund was set up in 1995 to seek funding sources to preserve the holy city of Al-Quds against Israel's attempts to obliterate its Arab and Muslim demography and architecture.

In his address, King Mohammed VI urged all associations, non-governmental organizations and individuals from all over the world to extend assistance to the fund.

"The duty of solidarity among the Muslims is sacred," he said, adding that he will personally follow up the work of the fund to enable it achieve its objectives.

The meeting is attended by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, together with representatives of 16 Islamic member countries, namely Jordan, Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Senegal, Iraq, Guinea, Palestine, Egypt, Mauritania, Niger, Lebanon and Morocco.

Other members are the Palestinian ambassador in Morocco as chairman of Bayt Mal Al-Quds, Abu Marwane, and secretary general of the Jeddah-based OIC, Azzedine Laraki.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Quds committee denounces israel's expansionist policy   (2/11/2000)
  Arab committee for supporting Jerusalem warns of risks of Judaizing the city   (2/2/2000)
  2000 set as year for Jerusalem by Arab information committee   (1/21/2000)

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