New York (UNA) - The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirmed its adherence to the constants of the Palestinian cause, represented by ending the Israeli occupation, establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and guaranteeing the right of return for Palestinian refugees. This came in the Kingdom's speech before the UN Security Council in its session held today under the item The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue, delivered by the Acting Chargé d'Affaires of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's permanent delegation to the United Nations, Counselor Muhammad bin Abdulaziz Al-Ateeq. Al-Ateeq stressed the importance of a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East as a strategic option to end this conflict, on the basis of the two-state solution, and in accordance with international references, the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002, the return of refugees, and an end to Israel's occupation of all Arab lands. He said: The holy month of Ramadan witnesses the Israeli occupation forces storming Al-Aqsa Mosque, closing its gates, and attacking unarmed worshipers inside the mosque and in its outer squares. This attack took place on the holiest days and months for Muslims. He expressed the condemnation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and its strong denunciation of this brutal attack against the sanctity of sanctities and the defenseless Palestinian people. This systematic escalation is usually a flagrant attack on the conscience of the Islamic nation, and a violation of relevant international resolutions and covenants. He called on the international community and the UN Security Council in particular to play its role in holding the Israeli occupation forces fully responsible for the repercussions of the continuation of such crimes and violations against the defenseless Palestinian people, their land and sanctities, which will only lead to more violence and security tension in the region. He reiterated the Kingdom's strong condemnation of the terrorist attacks claimed by the Houthi militia last month against civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Kingdom, stressing its sovereign right to take all necessary measures to defend its lands, citizens and residents against any terrorist threats in accordance with its obligations under international law. And he went on to say: Based on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's continuous endeavor to support peace and stability in Yemen, and to reach a comprehensive political solution between the Yemeni parties to achieve peace, development and prosperity for Yemen and its brotherly people, my country welcomes the issuance by former Yemeni President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, in accordance with the Yemeni constitution and the Gulf initiative and its executive mechanisms, a declaration establishing a council Presidential leadership to complete the implementation of the tasks of the transitional period, and to delegate to him the full powers of the President of the Republic. He welcomed the swearing-in of the President and members of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council in Aden, stressing the Kingdom's full support for the Presidential Leadership Council and its supporting entities to enable it to exercise its duties in implementing effective policies and initiatives that would achieve security and stability in the Republic of Yemen and end the Yemeni crisis. And he added, “And to complement the Kingdom’s role in supporting the brotherly Yemeni people, it was recently announced that 2 billion dollars would be provided equally between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, in support of the Central Bank of Yemen.” And providing $1 billion from the Kingdom, including $600 million for a fund to support the purchase of oil derivatives, $400 million for development projects and initiatives, and providing $300 million to fund the humanitarian response plan announced by the United Nations for the year 2022 to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people and improve their living and service conditions. Counselor Muhammad Al-Ateeq appreciated the efforts of the United Nations and its envoy to reach a truce in Yemen and a comprehensive cessation of military operations at home and on its borders, expressing the Kingdom's hope that these efforts would contribute to reaching a political settlement to support international efforts to end the crisis in Yemen. He stressed the importance of finding a permanent and urgent solution to the Safer oil tanker to avoid environmental disasters in the region, indicating that the recent developments are an opportune moment for the Houthis to build on in order to reach the desired political solution and spare Yemen and its brotherly people further suffering and destruction, and to avoid being used as a tool to serve agendas that seek only to create unrest and strife in the region.
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