Arab Parliament calls for emergency Arab summit

The Arab Parliament called on Monday for an emergency Arab summit to muster support for ending Israeli occupation of Palestine and its capital, Jerusalem.

After an extraordinary session in the Egyptian capital today to discuss ramifications of the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital and transfer of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the occupied city, the parliament said in a statement it has adopted a draft decision named: 'Al-Quds, the Eternal Capital of Palestine'. This is in addition to other decisions pending to be passed, in the closing session, including holding an emergency Arab summit and to bolster the Palestinian people struggle to confront brutal aggressions they face on their occupied territories.

The parliament held Washington responsible for the repercussions of the decision on international peace and security.

The State of Palestine has full sovereignty over territories occupied in 1967 including, Jerusalem, the statement said.

The parliament called on the UN Security Council and UN General Assembly to annul the US decision, and affirm the legal status of Jerusalem.

The Arab MPs, who praised worldwide rejection of the US decision, called on UN cultural agency (UNESCO) to confront the American move by highlighting historic, cultural and civilisational links between Jerusalem on one side, and Muslims and Christians on the other.

The statement reiterated commitment to the 2002 Arab peace initiative, principles of international law and relevant UN resolutions regarding occupied East Jerusalem, being an integral part of the Palestinian lands occupied in 1967.

The US decision, said the Arab MPs, aimed at changing legal status of Jerusalem and challenging UN resolutions. They formed teams to visit African and European parliaments to rally further support against the US decision.

They called for coordination pan-Arab coordination to prepare a legal document that refutes the US decision, and to distribute the document at Arab, regional and international conferences.

They called for supporting efforts of the Arab Group in the UN to prepare a UN draft resolution rejecting the US decision.

The Arab Parliament also called for standing against the Israeli candidacy to the UN Security Council in 2019-20.

The Arab MPs called for including the Palestinian Cause in curricula, and urged Arab societies to boycott American goods