President Mahmoud Abbas called today on Arab leaders to submit written pleadings with the International Court of Justice to help issue an advisory opinion on the nature and legality of the apartheid regime established by Israel, the occupying state, on the land of the State of Palestine. In his speech before the 32nd Arab Summit held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the President urged the international community to hold Israel accountable for its crimes against our people and to provide them with international protection. The President pointed out that Israel adheres to a colonial Zionist project based on the continuation of occupation, ethnic cleansing and apartheid, and that its successive governments have been defying international legitimacy through their unilateral measures, settlement policies, racist annexation projects, and fascist laws. “This dangerous situation puts us ahead of many responsibilities and obligations, the most important of which is accelerating the pace to change this situation before it is too late. Israel will not enjoy security and peace without the Palestinian people obtaining their freedom and independence,” said the President. President Abbas affirmed his confidence that the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people will be at the core of the Arab Summit, with a view of achieving a just and comprehensive solution that can end the Israeli occupation of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. The President stressed that such a solution must be based on the resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative in order to achieve peace in the region. The President stressed the commitment of the Palestinian leadership to achieve national unity and reconciliation on the basis of the national program of the Palestine Liberation Organization and international legitimacy. The President expressed his confidence that the Arab leaders would continue to provide political and financial support to strengthen the steadfastness of our people on their land, and to continue building the institutions of their independent state.
Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA