HM the King sends messages to the Heads of State of the permanent members of the Security Council and to several prominent figures concerning the serious developments in Al Quds

PERSISMA, Rabat – His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s Al-Quds Committee, sent messages to the Heads of State of the permanent members of the Security Council, Mr. Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, Mr. Dmitry Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation, Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the French Republic, Mr. Hu Jintao, President of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, concerning “the serious situation in Al-Quds (as) the Israeli authorities (carry on) with their plan to change the legal status of this holy city, as well as its historical, human and spiritual characteristics”.

His Majesty emphasized that “the question of Al-Quds is of paramount importance in the bitter conflict in the Middle East region. This is why several United Nations resolutions have underscored the need to safeguard the legal character of East Jerusalem as an occupied territory. They consider that all practices designed to alter the city’s identity or status are null and void”.

His Majesty went on to say: “Recently, I have been deeply concerned by the increase in settlement activity on the land of the Palestinian citizens in Al-Quds, excavations and the destruction of Palestinian homes in the city, as well as by the forced removal of Palestinians and the repeated invasion of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Worshippers have even been denied access to the compound to perform their religious rites”.

His Majesty, Chairman of the Al Quds Committee, condemned the “illegal, unilateral practices, together with other violations of Palestinian rights”, adding that they are “totally inconsistent with international law and international humanitarian law. The policy systematically implemented by the Israeli government seeks, above all, to undermine the Arab, Islamic and Christian identity of Jerusalem, and to build a ring of settlements around the City in order to isolate it from its Palestinian environment in the West Bank”.

His Majesty added that he firmly believed “this plan will fuel tensions in the occupied Palestinian territories and may lead to severe consequences which are impossible to predict, given the overall situation prevailing in the region. This would probably wreck all chances of peace in the region”.

His Majesty stressed that the Kingdom of Morocco, which has “a firm, unshakeable belief in peace (…) is convinced that attempts to forcibly impose facts on the ground will only cause further tension, violence and despair”.

He therefore emphasized that “there can be no peace in the Middle East region without an independent Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living in an environment of peace, security, freedom and tolerance between the revealed religions”.

Given these countries’ prominent, influential role within the international community, especially as permanent members of the Security Council and in the International Quartet, His Majesty indicated he was hoping they would undertake whatever good offices are warranted by the seriousness of the situation in order to compel the Israeli government to end all measures and practices that are incompatible with the relevant international resolutions and conventions.

His Majesty indicated that he remained “strongly committed to the achievement of peace and to finding a just, comprehensive and lasting solution, in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy – a solution that upholds the national, legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and that guarantees peace, security and concord for all peoples in the region”.

His Majesty sent letters on the same subject to:

-H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations Organization, given that the task of ensuring compliance with UN resolutions and respect for international legitimacy is a responsibility that lies with the Secretary-General, and also in view of the fact that the UN is as a member of the International Quartet;

-H.E. Mr. Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, in view of the EU’s influential role within the International Quartet as well as its strong involvement in the promising, strategic forum for Euro-Mediterranean cooperation;

-His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, considering his spiritual status and his unremitting desire for peace throughout the world – and more particularly in the Middle East region – the cradle of the revealed religions – and given also how strongly His Holiness feels about safeguarding the Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and preserving inter-faith coexistence;

-H.E. Mrs. Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General, considering the lofty goals UNESCO seeks to achieve, particularly in terms of safeguarding the universal cultural heritage of mankind, and in view of UNESCO’s resolutions and those of its Executive Board regarding the safeguard of the cultural heritage of Jerusalem as well as the educational, demographic and cultural situation in the holy city.