Yemen chairs an emergency meeting of the Arab League Council.
Yemen Leads Emergency Meeting of the Arab League
Today, Dr. Ali Moussa, Yemen’s Acting Permanent Representative to the Arab League, chaired an emergency meeting of the Arab League Council. This extraordinary session, convened at the ambassadorial level, followed a request from Jordan and was coordinated with Egypt and Palestine, receiving support from various Arab nations.
Discussion on Israeli Legislative Actions
The meeting included the presence of Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ambassador Hossam Zaki, along with senior officials from the organization. Participants discussed the implications of the Israeli Knesset’s decision to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from operating in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
Collective Arab Stance Against Israeli Measures
The meeting concluded with a statement reflecting a unified Arab position rejecting Israel’s illegal actions against UNRWA. The statement condemned Israel’s disregard for international calls to halt the enforcement of these unlawful laws aimed at restricting UNRWA’s operations in the occupied territories.
Legal Implications of Israeli Actions
The statement emphasized that all Israeli measures against UNRWA’s premises and assets in East Jerusalem are invalid and carry no legal weight. It asserted that Israel, as the occupying power, lacks the legitimacy or authority to confiscate private or public property or alter the legal and administrative status of the occupied territories, in accordance with the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and the Hague Regulations of 1970.
UNRWA’s Role and International Obligations
The statement highlighted that UNRWA was established under United Nations General Assembly Resolution 302 in 1949 to provide humanitarian and developmental support to Palestinian refugees. Attempts to hinder UNRWA’s operations violate international commitments to resolving the Palestinian refugee issue and undermine the internationally agreed-upon two-state solution.
Consequences of UNRWA’s Collapse
The statement warned that the collapse of UNRWA would inevitably increase the burdens on host countries in the agency’s five operational areas. This situation would exacerbate economic and social crises and weaken trust in institutions established to maintain international peace and security.
Continued Support for Palestinian Rights
The statement reiterated unwavering support for the Palestinian people’s resilience and their legitimate rights under international law. It firmly rejected any infringement on these inalienable rights, whether through settlement activities, evictions, home demolitions, land annexation, or any form of displacement or encouragement of the uprooting of Palestinians from their land. Such actions threaten stability and risk escalating conflict in the region, undermining prospects for peace and coexistence among its peoples.
This meeting underscores the Arab League’s commitment to addressing the challenges faced by the Palestinian people and advocating for their rights on the international stage.
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