Moroccan and Palestinian legislative branches agree to promote Palestinian cause

Moroccan and Palestinian legislative bodies have agreed to take steps to promote the Palestinian cause within international parliamentary bodies and inform them about the situation in the occupied territories.

A statement of the Moroccan house of representatives (lower chamber of parliament) says Moroccan speaker, Abdelouahed Radi and visiting speaker of the Palestinian national council, Salim Zaanoune, agreed on Monday to take steps with parliaments of leading countries, the European Parliament and international and regional parliamentary unions to make Israel abide by international law and end its abuses against Palestinians.

Talks covered the situation in the Middle East and Israel's repression against Palestinian civilians. The two men also reviewed political measures needed to support the Palestinian people struggle for recovery of its legitimate rights.

Zaanoun made a presentation on Israel's practices and castigated the blockade enforced on Palestinian cities and localities. He also explained how the occupation forces are trying to stop the Intifadha which Palestinians wage as a means to gain independence, create their independent state and guarantee the return of refugees. He went on that the Palestinian people needs Arab and Islamic solidarity to compel Israel abide by international law. He lauded, in this regard, Morocco's unfailing support to the Palestinian cause.

Morocco's king, government, parliament, parties and ngos will continue to support the Palestinian people's legitimate struggle to establish an independent state with Al-Quds as its capital, said the Moroccan official. He recalled that the house of representatives has always been keen on defending the Palestinian rights in all international and regional parliamentary meetings, citing the outstanding resolutions adopted by Arab and Islamic summits held in Morocco, especially the 1974 Rabat Arab summit which for the first time confirmed the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.

The same stand was highlighted by Moroccan minister of Habous and Islamic affairs, Moulay Driss Alaoui Mdaghri, who met the Palestinian official, currently visiting Morocco at the head of a parliamentary delegation.

The Palestinian official also met ministers of employment, vocational training and solidarity, and of public service and administrative reform and speaker of the chamber of advisors (upper legislative body), Mustapha Okacha.