DOHA: The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud yesterday urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) States that all means and mechanisms available within the international law and international humanitarian law should be deployed to protect the Palestinian people and their heritage in Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque.

He was heading a Qatari delegation to an extraordinary Summit of the OIC in Jakarta Indonesia on Palestine and Al Quds Al Sharif (Jerusalem) reports Qatar News Agency (QNA). Al Mahmoud hailed the president the government and the people of Indonesia for the warm reception and concern shown by President Joko Widodo for the cause of Palestine and Al Quds Al Sharif.

He referred to the special meeting held last April in Jakarta for OIC representatives during the 60th anniversary of the Asian-African Conference which was held to discuss a host of issues foremost among which was the issue of Palestine and Al Quds Al Sharif.

Al Mahmoud also thanked OIC Secretary-General Iyad Amin Madani for the efforts he made to make preparations for this summit and for leading the works of the OIC general secretariat wishing him and all the secretariat officials success.

Al Mahmoud said convening the summit in Jakarta gives it the speciality of place as it is held in the largest Islamic country in terms of Muslim populations in addition to being an important place for mustering Islamic support for the Palestinian cause particularly under the difficult conditions the Holy Al Aqsa Mosque the first qibla (direction to which Muslims turned in prayer) and the third holiest Muslim place is passing through.

He said the convening of the summit sends a clear message about the Islamic nations’ firm and incessant commitment to the collective responsibility to champion the cause of and protect the Holy Al Aqsa Mosque.

The Palestinian cause is facing increasing challenges and successive developments necessitating further work and cooperation and that puts on our organization which is second in after the United Nations a huge responsibility to support the Palestinian people to overcome the crises through which they are passing through.

The repercussions of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories have been increasing day by day on the State of Palestine and the Palestinian people Al Mahmoud said noting that developments in the occupied Palestinian territories the killing destruction confiscation of land settlement expulsion of the population and building of a racial segregation wall reveal the seriousness of the current situation not only on the Palestinian people but on the whole Islamic nation.

Qatar is doing what it must through the Qatari-Palestinian Committee for the Support of Jerusalem and Jerusalemites in order to preserve Jerusalem Al Aqsa Mosque rebuilding Gaza and the Palestinian reconciliation which he said Qatar hopes will result in Palestinian unity.

He added that Qatar is following with great concern the brutal Israeli attacks and condemns the Israeli practices in terms of continuing settlement and disrespecting the international decisions and resolutions and humanitarian considerations.

He said the summit and the following ones aim to unite all energies and resources in order to enhance the organization’s work at international platforms and come up with a united stance in support of Palestinians in restoring their legitimate rights and building their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital noting that OIC was first established in 1969 to defend Jerusalem.

QNA reports that Indonesian President Joko Widodo met Al Mahmoud on the sidelines of the summit on Palestine and Al Quds Al Sharif.

At the beginning of the meeting Al Mahmoud conveyed the greetings of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his wishes of health and happiness to Indonesian President and further progress and prosperity for the people of Indonesia.

For his part the Indonesian President entrusted Al Mahmoud to convey his greetings to the Emir wishing him good health and happiness and further progress and prosperity to the government and people of Qatar.

Talks dealt with bilateral relations between the two countries and means of developing them in various fields in addition to topics on the agenda of the 5th Extraordinary OIC summit. Qatari Ambassador to Indonesia Mohamed bin Khater Ibrahim Al Khater attended the meeting.

The Peninsula