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Twenty-Ninth Arab Summit (The Jerusalem Summit): Dhahran Declaration

The 29th Arab Summit (The Jerusalem Summit) 

Dhahran Declaration 

(Excerpts)

Dhahran, 15 April 2018. 

We, the leaders of Arab States,… 

… 

Decide the following: 

Reaffirm the centrality of the Question of Palestine to the entire Arab nation and the significance of the Arab identity of occupied East Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Palestine;  

Stress the importance of a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East as a strategic Arab option, reflected in the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by all the Arab States at the Beirut Summit in 2002, and supported by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and which remains the most comprehensive plan for resolving all final status issues, particularly the issue of refugees, and providing security, acceptance and peace to Israel and all Arab States, and underline our commitment to the Initiative and our adherence to all its clauses.  

Affirm the illegality and illegitimacy of the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel, and categorically reject recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, whereas East Jerusalem will remain the capital of the State of Palestine; and warn of taking any actions that would alter the current legal and political status of Jerusalem which shall result in serious implications on the entire Middle East.  

Welcome the decision of the United Nations General Assembly on Jerusalem and express gratitude to its supportive countries, while reaffirming our continued efforts to relaunch serious and effective Palestinian Israeli peace negotiations that end the political failure facing the Question due to the intransigent Israeli positions; aspire that the negotiations be conducted in accordance with a specific time frame to end the conflict on the basis of the two-State solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian State on the borders of 4th June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, which constitutes the only solution to achieve security and stability in the region; and support the vision of the Palestinian President for peace as he announced in his statement before the Security Council on 20th February 2018.  

Affirm our rejection of all unilateral Israeli measures aiming to alter the facts on the ground and undermine the two-State solution; call upon the international community to implement the international legitimacy resolutions, the latest of which is Security Council Resolution 2334 of 2016 that condemned settlement activities and land confiscation; and also emphasize our support for the outcome of the Paris Conference on the Middle East held on 15th January 2017 that renewed the commitment of the international community to the two-State solution as the only solution to achieve lasting peace.  

Demand the implementation of all Security Council resolutions pertaining to Jerusalem that stress the invalidity of all Israeli measures aimed at altering East Jerusalem landmarks and confiscate its true Arab identity; and call upon all countries of the world not to transfer their embassies to Jerusalem or recognize it as capital of Israel.  

Emphasize the need to implement the resolution adopted by the Executive Board of UNESCO at its 200th Session on 18th October 2016; call upon the international community to assume its responsibilities regarding the Israeli violations and arbitrary measures against Al-Aqsa Mosque and its worshipers; and consider the Jordanian Jerusalem Awqaf and Al-Aqsa Mosque as the only legal authority over Al-Haram regarding its administration, maintenance and preservation and the organization of access to it. 

 

Source: English translation at leagueofarabstates.net