Jordan Times
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Occupation, denial of
Palestinian rights central grievance — King
UNITED NATIONS (Agencies) — King Abdullah on Tuesday said that until Israel ends
its occupation of Palestinian land and gives Palestinians their rights, the
cycle of violence will continue in the region and its effects will be felt
throughout the world.
“I come before you today with a deep sense of urgency,” King Abdullah told the
61st session of the United Nations General Assembly (See the full text of the
King’s remarks).
“Never has it been more important for the world community to act decisively for
peace in my region.”
He said the recent crises in the Middle East showed that “there can be no just
global order when aggression and occupation are permitted to take the place of
international law”.
“Our youths are asking, ‘where is the justice, where is the will of the global
community?’ We must answer them by establishing a lasting peace based on the
international legality we have pledged to uphold,” he said.
“This means a new focus on the core problem. The region’s contemporary crises
are outgrowths of a central grievance, felt throughout the Middle East and
indeed the world. The grievance, plain and simply, is Israeli occupation and the
denial, over decades, of Palestinian rights. Until we end that wrong, conflict
will breed more conflict, year after year.”
The Monarch said that over the years, United Nations resolutions condemning
“aggression and occupation” had failed to be implemented.
“It is time to take a better path,” he said.
He also called on Arab and international community to support Lebanon’s
reconstruction efforts following this summer’s fighting.
“Events show clearly that there can be no unilateral solution to the conflict.
There must be a genuine partnership among all parties, in the context of
international legality and justice,” he said.
“We must make peace a priority. And we must do so now. No session of this great
institution could make a greater contribution to a future of justice and hope.”
On the sidelines of the meeting, King Abdullah held separate talks with
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and President Oscar Sanchez of Costa Rica
on Middle East developments and bilateral ties.