The Arab Peace Initiative Ministerial Committee has called on the Palestinian parties to proceed with the option of national reconciliation, and work to overcome difficulties and obstacles which would support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and its national unity and cohesion. In the final statement of its meeting here on Saturday, the Committee welcomed the efforts to achieve reconciliation through the agreement concluded recently in Cairo on forming a competent transitional government and the arrangements for presidential and legislative elections as well as other efforts aimed at completing steps to achieve reconciliation under Egypt's sponsorship. The Committee also called for lifting all forms of unjust and illegal Israeli siege on Gaza Strip, regarding that as a violation of the international law and humanitarian law. The Committee stressed in its statement the Arab League Council resolution No. 7505 of last May 6, and in particular the seventh paragraph thereof, which called on submitting a request for an extraordinary session of the UN General Assembly to discuss the issue of Palestinian and Arab detainees in Israeli jails. The Committee condemned the continuation of Israel's detention of thousands of Palestinian and Arab prisoners which represents a flagrant violation of principles of international law, international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions. It said that Israel should be fully responsible for the safety of lives of all prisoners and detainees, urging the international community to compel the Israeli government to release prisoners and detainees, especially those who were arrested before the end of 1994.
