Arab League, Islamic Conference speak on Palestine Nakba anniversary

The Arab League has asserted that the policy of occupation, aggression and terrorism practiced against the Palestinian people would not undermine their steadfastness for establishing their own independent state with Jerusalem as a capital.

In a statement issued on Thursday marking the 50th anniversary of the usurpation of Palestine the A.L. noted that the cause of Palestine is the core of the Arab - Israeli conflict, adding that the concept of "occupation and aggression" cannot last for ever and that people's will to restore the usurped rights will be victorious."

The A.L. held the Israeli government responsible for destroying the peace process and asserted Arab commitment to restoring all occupied Arab lands in Palestine, the Golan and southern Lebanon in compliance with international legitimacy resolutions and the land for peace principle. The statement asserted that just and comprehensive peace based on international legitimacy resolutions would achieve security and stability in the region.

The statement called upon the international community, especially the Middle East peace process cosponsors, to take a firm position to force Israel to abide by peace principles and to implement already-reached agreements and obligations.

Meanwhile the Organization of the Islamic Conference called for salvaging the stumbled Middle East peace process. In a statement marking Palestine's 50th usurpation anniversary, the OIC said this "painful anniversary comes at a time when the Middle East peace process is dying." It called upon the international community and Middle East peace process cosponsors to force Israel to live uo to obligations under U.N. resolutions and voiced the OIC support for the Palestinian people to establish their own independent state.