At Makkah summit, Palestinian right to statehood affirmed, Iranian aggression denounced

MAKKAH: Heads of Islamic countries renewed their commitment to the Palestinian cause, early Saturday at a gathering at Islam’s holiest site, and reiterated the Palestinians’ right to statehood.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) supported the Palestinians to “attain their inalienable national rights, including their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital,” said a statement by the organization.

The OIC also rejected any solution that does not secure the Palestinian people’s rights and rejected Washington’s relocation of its embassy to Jerusalem.

“Palestine is our main issue until the Palestinians get their rights,” Saudi Arabia’s King Salman said opening the Islamic summit in Makkah, as throngs of worshippers crowded the Grand Mosque for a key date in the Ramadan calendar.

“We reaffirm our unequivocal rejection of any measures that would prejudice the historical and legal status of Al-Quds Al-Sharif,” the king said referring to the third holiest site in Islam.

We want an integral solution that would preserve the Palestinians’ rights in accordance with the borders of 67, said Jordan’s King Abdullah, in his remarks to the leaders. 

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also urged the creation of a Palestinian state within the 67 borders with Jerusalem as its capital. 

Arab and Islamic nations have been attending three summits in two days to discuss regional issues, including a growing threat to Middle East security by Iran.

King Salman also reiterated that efforts must be made to confront terrorism and those who sponsor it. 

The  king put the blame of recent attacks on oil tankers off the UAE coast squarely on Iranian-backed terrorist groups.

“During this holy month, commercial vessels, including two Saudi oil tankers, were subjected near the UAE's territorial waters to terrorist sabotage. This poses a serious threat to the security and safety of maritime traffic and regional and international security. Also, two oil pump stations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were attacked by drones launched by Iranian-backed terrorist militias,” said the king.

We emphasize that these subversive terrorist acts not only target the Kingdom and the Gulf region, but also the security of navigation and world energy supplies.”

“We hope that the Summit will achieve the aspirations of the Islamic countries for progress, development and prosperity,” the king told leaders and heads of states of 57 countries of the OIC.

LIVE COVERAGE (all times KSA)

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Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi called for more work to strengthen solidarity and take a unified Arab and Islamic stand and confront extremism. 

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Leader of nations that make up the Organization of Islamic Cooperation arrive in Makkah’s Al-Safa Palace greeted by King Salman.