Arab League stresses importance of Islamic summit

The Arab League stressed the importance of the Extraordinary Islamic Summit, scheduled tomorrow in Makkah to discuss ways to address the challenges facing the Islamic nation. Arab League Secretary-General Dr. Nabil Al-Arabi will travel Makkah tomorrow to participate in the summit at the head of a high-powered Arab League delegation. Arab League Assistant Secretary General for Palestine and the Occupied Arab Territories Ambassador Mohamed Sabih said Saudi Arabia will put the issue of Jerusalem in the heart of this summit adding that time is now opportune for Muslim countries to lay all their weight to protect Jerusalem, the holy sites and the Al-Aqsa Mosque from judaization, demolition and displacement designs. In a statement to reporters today Sabih cautioned that there is an extremely harsh Israeli plan targeting the displacement of Palestinians from Jerusalem, in addition to Israel's intention to build synagogues in the al-Aqsa mosque facades and to build the alleged temple in place of the mosque. He pointed out that the Al-Aqsa is coming under severe and continued siege through raids, excavations and tunnels, in addition to the confiscation the Jerusalemites' lands work to to displace them from Jerusalem. Sabih also warned of the increasing poverty among Jerusalemites, explaining that 80 percent of them are below the poverty line and lacking housing, education and sources of food. He also warned against a plan to expel Jerusalemites, stressing that the steadfastness of the Jerusalemites relies on the support of the Arab nation.