King Hassan II expresses hope conditions for holding Arab summit will be examined
Regional-Morocco, Politics, 7/31/1998

King Hassan II expressed hope on Thursday that the opportunity will be favorable and conditions will be examined so that Arab heads of state can meet to examine not only inter-Arab issues but also issues having an impact on the Islamic nation.

This came in the speech delivered by the sovereign during the closing session of the 17th meeting of the Jerusalem committee, convened in Casablanca on July 29-30.

The Jerusalem Committee, an off-shoot of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), seeks to "devise a global plan for the liberation" of the holy city and the preservation of the Arab and Islamic cultural and religious heritage of the city.

"As the Islamic summit was convened few months ago, and as the Jerusalem committee is meeting today, I pray the almighty that the opportunity be propitious and that the conditions be examined so that the Arab heads of state can meet on their part, to discuss not only Arab-Arab issues, but also issues having an impact on our Islamic Ummah," the sovereign said.

Several Arab leaders, including President Arafat of Palestine, had recently called for convening an Arab summit to examine the situation prevailing in the Middle East and the intransigence of the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu that pushed the peace process to deadlock.

King Hassan II expressed satisfaction at the climate wherein the committee's proceedings were held, saying, "We have tackled the issues on the agenda properly, i.e. with frankness, such as the members of the same family, everyone expressing his inner feelings and complaints, and expecting the other to heed these complaints and show understanding."

Touching on the Jerusalem Fund, whose trusteeship committee has been endorsed by this 17th session, the sovereign expressed hope that the fund's first results would be presented to the committee's coming session.

This fund would be "an implement of struggle and resistance, I do not say negative resistance but rather positive resistance," the sovereign said, adding, "We shall, with God's help, relieve the inhabitants of Jerusalem...and make a contribution, surely modest but so strategic, to alleviate the sufferings of the Palestinian people in general and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem in particular."

In the final communique issued at the end of the two-day 17th session, the Jerusalem committee urged the Islamic states, Islamic financial institutions, banks and funds as well as companies and individuals to extend generous assistance in support of Bayt Al-Mal of Jerusalem.

It also urged them to conduct public donation campaigns for the benefit of the holy city to allow the institutions and departments of Jerusalem to continue playing their role in supporting the steadfastness of the inhabitants of the city in the face of occupation.

Previous Stories:
  Financial backing needed to brake settlements, ministers hold side talks   (7/30/1998)
  Khaddam: Syria opposes Arab summit, calls for economic boycott of Israel   (7/14/1998)
  Saudi Arabia, Egypt mediate between Syria and Jordan   (7/6/1998)

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