In a recent interview on the "Diplomatic Street" program broadcast by the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya channel, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Ismail Al-Sheikh Ahmed, stressed that the Palestinian issue is the central concern of the organization. He highlighted that the OIC has four key areas of focus regarding Palestine. This statement comes in response to questions about the organization's efforts to address the erosion of Palestinian rights.
Al-Sheikh Ahmed reiterated the OIC's unwavering commitment to supporting Palestine and the Palestinian people's right to an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. He emphasized that this principle is unshakeable and that the organization will continue to defend it. The OIC's primary goal is to promote the Palestinian cause and ensure the rights of the Palestinian people.
The OIC Secretary-General outlined the organization's four key areas of focus regarding Palestine. The first axis relates to politics, where the organization aims to strengthen the Palestinian Authority and promote the unity of the Palestinian state, both politically and economically. The OIC seeks to support Palestine's efforts to establish a sovereign state.
Al-Sheikh Ahmed noted that the second axis focuses on economy and finance. He accused Israel of attempting to strangle the Palestinian Authority by denying it access to funds, including $5 billion in taxes that the Authority is entitled to receive. The OIC aims to provide financial support to Palestine to help it overcome these challenges.
The third axis involves the organization's efforts to document and expose Israeli crimes against Palestinians. Al-Sheikh Ahmed stated that the OIC has a legal observatory that monitors and records these crimes, which are then presented to international courts for accountability. This initiative aims to ensure that Israeli actions are held to account.
The OIC Secretary-General also highlighted the fourth axis, which focuses on media and awareness-raising efforts. The organization seeks to shed light on the daily events and violations occurring in Palestine, raising international awareness of the situation. This effort aims to garner global support for the Palestinian cause.
The OIC's commitment to Palestine is clear, with 57 member states supporting the organization's initiatives. Al-Sheikh Ahmed emphasized that the organization's role is to provide a safety net for Palestine, ensuring its financial sustainability and supporting its people in their quest for statehood.
Key points
- The OIC has four key areas of focus regarding Palestine: politics, economy and finance, legal accountability, and media awareness.
- The organization aims to provide financial support to Palestine to help it overcome challenges.
- The OIC seeks to document and expose Israeli crimes against Palestinians, presenting them to international courts for accountability.
