In a speech to the fourth extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Makkah (ŮŽAugust 14-15), and which was read on Wednesday by HRH Prince Moulay Rachid, the Sovereign stressed the need for the Islamic Ummah to keep the Palestinian question at the forefront of its concerns and priorities "since it is the core issue of the conflict in the Middle East."
HM the King, in this regard, said that the situation in the Palestinian territories and the outcome of the peace process, which is the result of the systematic Israeli practices towards the Palestinian people, require to take firm initiatives to support the steadfast struggle of the Palestinian people and their National Authority, so that the Palestinians may recover their legitimate rights and establish their independent state, with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital.
In accordance with his capacity as President of the Al Quds Committee, HM the King reaffirmed his commitment to remain actively engaged with influential international parties and other peace-loving forces to put an end to "the Israeli government’s persistent dodging of the obligations it has under the relevant international legitimacy resolutions and the agreements signed."
This includes, added HM the King, to compel Israel to respect the Arab, Islamic and Christian character of the city of Al Quds, to stop the policy of settlement and Judaization, to refrain from stripping the inhabitants of Jerusalem of their right to reside in Al Quds Al Sharif, and to end the successive violations of the sanctity of the Al Aqsa Mosque and other Islamic monuments.