Dr. Saeb Erekat: Israeli government insists on sabotaging international efforts

We condemn in the strongest terms the latest provocation by the Israeli government, holding its weekly meeting in the tunnels beneath Al Aqsa Mosque Compound in Occupied East Jerusalem.

 
The Israeli Government has decided to mark 50 years occupation, and the beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan, by sending a clear message to the Palestinian people that the systematic violations of their inalienable rights are going to continue.

Israel’s unprecedented culture of impunity has been encouraged by a number of countries that continue to assure Israel that no concrete action will be taken to end Israel's decades of systematic violations of its obligations under international law and UN resolutions, including at UNESCO, where the Old City of Jerusalem enjoys the status of being a World Heritage Site.

It is no longer acceptable that after 50 years of the Israeli occupation, for countries to claim to support the two-state solution while giving assurances to Israel that there will be no consequences for its illegal actions. Marking 50 years of occupation is a shame for all the international system.Today’s meeting in Occupied East Jerusalem is an attempt by the Israeli government to normalize occupation, oppression and colonization over the land and people of Palestine.

The Israeli government insists on sabotaging international efforts. We call upon each country , particularly countries that have had a historic presence, and  role in Jerusalem, to assume responsibility including  respecting of the status quo the holy sites.