Maldives reject Israeli plan to annex parts of Occupied West Bank
Foreign Minister Shahid participated in OIC's Open-Ended Virtual Extraordinary Meeting, on Wednesday
Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid participates in OIC\'s Open-Ended Virtual Extraordinary Meeting, on Wednesday
Maldives has condemned and rejected the proposed Israeli annexation of large parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and called for the restoration of the Palestinians' right to self-determination.
Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid made the call while participating in the Open-Ended Virtual Extraordinary Meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Executive Committee at the Level of Foreign Ministers, on Wednesday.
Conveying Maldives’ “firm condemnation and rejection of the Israeli Government’s plans to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank”, the minister described the proposal as “the latest in a series of steps taken by Israel that would destabilize regional peace and security”.
He said that the move “compounds the suffering and existing vulnerabilities of the Palestinian people as the whole world is preoccupied with its response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic”.
Further noting that the annexation “goes against a rules-based international order and undermines respect for international law”, Shahid called on the international community “to do more to ensure that international law is upheld and the relevant United Nations resolutions are implemented to end the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands, and prevent further unlawful settlements”.
The foreign minister also reiterated Maldives’ long-standing position of restoring the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination by ensuring an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He described the unilateral and unlawful plans to annex Occupied Palestinian Territory “as diminishing any hopes of a two-state solution, which can only be achieved from negotiations in good faith”.
Shahid concluded his remarks by calling for “unity amongst the Islamic Ummah in standing side-by-side with the people of Palestine in their struggle for justice, peace and freedom”.
The meeting, chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, brought together Foreign Ministers of the OIC to discuss the Israeli Government’s proposal to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank in the State of Palestine. It concluded with the adoption of a resolution by the Executive Committee of the OIC condemning the threats of the Israeli Government.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, comprising of 57 Member States, has constantly advocated for the rights of Palestinian people and a two-state solution. The Maldives has been an active member of the OIC since becoming a member in 1976.
