International colloquy on al-Quds opens in Fez
Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 11/14/2000

An international colloquy on the holy city of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) started proceedings in Fez, some 200 Km north-east Rabat, to debate the religious, civilizational and historical dimension of the city.

The colloquy under the topic "Al-Quds now, the city, the people, permanent challenges" is taking place at a moment the Palestinian people is the target of fierce aggression on the part of the Israeli occupying forces.

Debates also cover Al-Quds as viewed by Moroccans, Human and urban aspects of the city, and struggle against Israeli action. "Al Quds is ours," is another topic to be discussed by the colloquy.

Opening the colloquy Monday, Moroccan minister of culture and communication, Mohamed Al-Achaari, said the holy city has renewed, through the Intifadah, or uprising, that it cannot be a mere provision in a stumbling agreement. The City of Al-Quds must be the first step in any fair and lasting peace project in the region, he said.

After he underlined that the events taking place in Al-Quds are an additional evidence to the Zionist practices seeking to obliterate historical truth, confiscate lands and uproot people from their soil, the Moroccan official called the Arab and Islamic nation to rethink the peace it seeks on the basis of coexistence, tolerance and justice at a time the occupier seeks "a negotiation on national claims and an abandon of all that constitutes the core of Arab existence in Palestine."

Al-Quds is the core of the struggle against Palestinians and Israelis and no solution is possible without the recognition of the Palestinian State and the recognition of the holy shrines and spiritual and cultural landmarks in the city, Al-Achaari said.

Several participants took the floor at the opening session, including delegate of the embassy of Palestine in Rabat, Zakaria Alami, chairman of the Arab architects council, Assim Salam, and Palestinian historian, Walid Khaldi. They have all denounced the Israeli plots in the holy city and underlined that the issue of Al-Quds is at present the major sacred cause of the Arab and Islamic nation.

The colloquy is held under the aegis of King Mohammed VI, chairman of the Al-Quds committee and is sponsored by the ministry of culture and communication in cooperation with the Arab Architects council. It winds up on November 16.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan artists commemorate 40th day of Palestinian child's assassination   (11/13/2000)
  Fez hosts an international conference on Jerusalem   (11/13/2000)
  Moroccan house of representatives holds special session on Palestine   (11/9/2000)

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