Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, while addressing the United Nations General Assembly’s 75th session yesterday reiterated Qatar’s unflinching support to the Palestinian cause. “There is an international consensus on the fairness of the Palestinian cause, but despite this consensus, the international community stands helpless without taking any effective steps vis-a-vis the Israeli intransigence and persistence in occupying the Palestinian and Arab lands, besides imposing a stifling siege on the Gaza Strip, continuing a policy of expanding settlements, imposing a fait accompli policy in a flagrant violation of international legitimacy resolutions and the two-state solution agreed upon by the international community,” H H the Amir said.
H H the Amir reiterated that a just and desired peace can be achieved only through Israel’s full commitment to the terms of reference and decisions of the international legitimacy accepted by the Arabs and upon which the Arab Peace Initiative is based. Israel tries to circumvent it and acts as if the Palestinian cause does not exist, H H the Amir said.
H H the Amir made it a point to assert that any arrangements that are not based on theses terms of reference will not achieve peace, even if they are called peace. It may have intents other than the just solution to the Palestinian cause and other than achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.
On Sunday, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed the country’s stance that Israel must end the occupation of Palestinian territories and the establishment of the State of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital within the framework of international legitimacy and relevant Security Council resolutions and allowing all Palestinian refugees the right to return to their homeland. Qatar sees these conditions as the just and sustainable solution to the conflict.
Qatar has been playing an unquestionable role in supporting the Palestinian cause in all international forums and while vociferously advocating for the rights of the Palestinians on one hand, the country has also been extending whatever financial and material support to them, directly or through national and international agencies.
It is high time the international community opened their eyes towards the struggle of the helpless Palestinian people and make all the efforts to force the parties involved to take necessary steps to alleviate the hardships of the people which started way back in 1967. The countries in the region should recongnise, act upon their responsibilities to Palestine and should not compromise the cause of Palestinians for any benefits, whether it is economic or political.
