Saturday October 18, 2003 10:45 AM

DECLARATION ON AL-QUDS AL-SHARIF AND PALESTINE

1. The Heads of State or Government, as the leaders of the Islamic Ummah, reaffirmed the centrality of the cause of Al-Quds AI-Sharif and Palestine to the entire Ummah. They reaffirmed that, as the first Qiblah and the third holy sanctuary, Al-Haram Al-Sharif and Al-Quds Al-Sharif, as blessed by God, shall forever remain Islamic. They stressed the necessity for Al-Quds Al-Sharif and its holy places to be under Palestinian sovereignty, paving the way for true freedom of worship by the believers of all three monotheistic religions and for a genuine reconciliation and lasting peace in the Middle East region.

2. The Heads of State or Government strongly condemned all attempts by Israel, the occupying Power, to judaize Al-Quds Al-Sharif and to change the Arab character, nature and demographic composition of the city. They recalled in this regard the many relevant Security Council resolutions on all illegal Israeli measures, including measures and actions taken by Israel to change the status, characted and demographic composition of Al-Quds, which are null and void, and called for full implementation of those resolutions. They further reiterated their solidarity with the Palestinian inhabitants and institutions of Al-Quds Al-Sharif in their steadfast resilience and affirmed their determination to provide them with the necessary support to preserve. They reiterated their full support for the valuable work carried out by the Committee of Al-Quds and expressed their appreciation to its Chairmanship.

3. The Heads of State or Government, recalling the historic injustices inflicted upon the Palestinian people, reiterated their principled support for and longstanding solidarity with the Palestinian people and their national legitimate leadership. They recalled, in this regard, that in 1948 more than half of the Palestinian people were uprooted from their land, homes and properties, dispossessed and forced to live as refugees until today, awaiting the implementation of United Nations resolution 194 (III). They also recalled that the establishment of the State of Palestinian, in accordance with United Nations resolution 181 (II), has been obstructed for more than fifty years. They further recalled that the remainder of the Palestinian Territory has been under the foreign occupation of Israel since 1967, and that, since that time, the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Al-Quds Al-Sharif, have been subjected to the continuous oppression and brutality of the occupation, including an active campaign of settler colonialism and expansionism.

4. The Heads of State or Government expressed their deep concern at the tragic situation prevailing in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Al-Quds Al-Sharif, since 28 September 2000. They strongly condemned the war crimes and systematic human rights violations that have been committed by the Israeli occupying forces against the Palestinian people. They condemned in particular the willful killing of Palestinian civilians, including extrajudicial executions; the excessive and indiscriminate use of force, resulting in extensive loss of life and injury; the wanton destruction of homes, infrastructure and agricultural lands; the detention and imprisonment of thousands of Palestinians; and the imposition of collective punishments on the entire Palestinian population, including severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods and prolonged curfews, resulting humanitarian crisis. The Heads of State or Government further condemned the settler colonialism that has been carried out by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Al-Quds Al-Sharif, since 1967, through land confiscation, settlement building and the transfer of Israeli nationals to the Occupied Territory.

5. The Heads of State or Government reiterated their unwavering support for the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to national independence and the exercise of sovereignty in their State, Palestine, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. They reaffirmed the responsibility of the international community, particularly the permanent responsibility of the United Nations, including the Security Council, until the question of Palestine is resolved in all its aspects.

6. The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed their support for the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East in accordance with international legitimacy and supported all international efforts in their regard. They expressed the hope that the whole region would live in peace, security, safety and prosperity free from all forms of terror and violence.

7. The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the sanctity, dignity and Islamic nature of Al-Haram Al-Sharif and striving for the sovereignty of Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of the State of Palestine