JEDDAH — The Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has renewed its support for the State of Palestine's right to have full sovereignty over Jerusalem (Al-Quds) city, the capital of the State of Palestine, protect its Arab identity, preserve its heritage, defend the sanctity of its holy sites and ensure the inalienable Islamic rights of the city. In a statement issued on Wednesday on the 50th anniversary of the arson attack on the Aqsa Mosque, the pan Islamic body said that it comes while Israeli violations continue escalating against Al-Aqsa Mosque, restricting the freedom of access of Muslims to the mosque, continuous attacks on Muslim worshipers inside its yards, closing its gates, and enabling extremist settlers to storm its courtyards, the Saudi Press Agency reported. In addition, the OIC pointed in the statement to intensifying of excavations under the mosque and its vicinity within the framework of Israel's (the occupying power) plans to Judaize the city, change its geographical and demographic characteristics and isolate it from its Palestinian surroundings in a flagrant violation of the international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. OIC, which was established following the arson attack on the Aqsa Mosque in 1969, called on the international community to work to bring Israel, the occupying power, to abide by the principles of the international law and resolutions and end its occupation of all the land of the occupied Palestinian state recognized by the United Nations on the basis of the 1967 borders, including Jerusalem The OIC also applauds the Palestinian people in the city of Jerusalem, reaffirming its continued solidarity with them and supporting their legitimate rights.
