Marrakech - The city of Al Quds is the key to peace, the beating heart of the State of Palestine, and its eternal capital, which should be the foundation and the basis of the ties of Arab and Islamic countries with the different countries of the world, said President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas.
Speaking, Friday in Marrakech, at the opening ceremony of the 20th meeting of Al-Quds Committee, held under the chairmanship of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Palestinian president warned against the severity of threats facing Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa Mosque, stressing the duty of all the parties in the defense of the holy city. "Al-Aqsa has never been threatened this way before, the Israeli occupation has unprecedentedly stepped up, what it sees as its ultimate battle in its war aimed at removing the Arab, Islamic and Christian character of Al Quds," he said. Abbas said Israel seeks to expand the Jewish presence by setting up more settlements and impoverishing the holy city through the destruction of its infrastructure and its economic resources. He emphasized the importance of strengthening the infrastructure of the holy city by carrying out projects dedicated to support schools, social and cultural institutions, and health facilities. Al Quds Committee, an offshoot of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, is holding its 20th session from January 17 through 18. Foreign ministers of the committee member-states, the OIC secretary general, High-level emissaries representing the UN Security Council permanent member-states, the EU, the Vatican, the UN and the Arab league are attending the Marrakech meeting.