Morocco's King Calls for Rebuilding Trust Between Palestinians, Israelis

Arab World

November 30th, 7:21am

Rabat - Asharq Al-Awsat

Morocco's King Mohammed VI. (AFP)

Morocco's King Mohammed VI called Monday for building trust between Palestinians and Israelis with a view to resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. He stressed Rabat will press ahead with its efforts in order to ensure the right conditions for a return of the two sides to the negotiating table. "I call, once again, for the launching of an intensive and effective diplomatic effort to get the parties back to the negotiating table in order to settle the Palestinian issue within the framework of the two-state solution and thus build a promising future for upcoming Palestinian and Israeli generations," he said in a message to the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Cheikh Niang, on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The monarch called on the international community to help the two parties build trust and refrain from any practices that undermine the peace process, recalling that seven years have now passed since direct negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides stopped. "During that period, trust between the two parties has vanished. That trust could have been leveraged to implement the solution desired by the international community," he stressed, adding that the impasse in the Middle East peace process places a heavy burden as well as a great responsibility on the international community - and more particularly on the influential countries - to overcome the complex, intertwined obstacles that prevent any breakthrough in the political domain. King Mohammed said Morocco will press ahead with its efforts in order to bring about the right conditions for a return to the negotiating table as the only means to put an end to the conflict and ensure security and stability in the Middle-East region. "However, no matter how sincere the intentions may be, no effort can succeed in the face of unilateral measures that destroy the chances of peace and fuel violence and hatred," he warned, reaffirming Morocco's immutable position regarding the justness of the Palestinian cause. He added that the Moroccan position does not change according to circumstances, nor is it governed by some pointless political outbidding tactics. Rather, he said: “It is the embodiment of a conviction which is deeply rooted in the consciousness of the Moroccan people and which is backed by serious, purposeful diplomatic endeavors as well as tangible work on the ground for the benefit of the just cause of Palestine and Jerusalem.” The King called for the preservation of the Arab and Islamic identity of Jerusalem as well as its legal, demographic and historical status. "It is important to make sure the holy city is open to the followers of the monotheistic religions, who should coexist in an environment where fraternity, affection and peace prevail," he said. King Mohammed also expressed his full support for the Palestinian Authority, under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas, in its efforts to fulfill the aspirations of the Palestinian people for freedom, independence, unity and prosperity.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3332771/moroccos-king-calls-rebuilding-trust-between-palestinians-israelis