The Arab League reaffirmed the status of Jerusalem as an integral part of the Palestinian territories occupied in the six-day Arab-Israeli war in 1967. Arab League Assistant Secretary-general for Palestine and Occupied Arab Land Affairs Mohammed Sobeih reiterated the principled stance.
He called upon The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) not to bow to illegitimate external pressures.
“All international resolutions confirm Al-Quds as an integral part of the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967”, he said.
He called upon the Paris-based organization to side with occupied peoples in their struggle to protect their national heritage.
“The Arab league is in permanent contact with the UNESCO – Arab Group and the Palestinian and Arab League delegations to follow up the crisis resulting from the listing of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel” he said. He was referring to the listing of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on the website of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
He also urged the UNESCO to commit to international resolutions, historical facts and international law and withstand illegitimate external pressures.
“The Arab League has been following-up negative attitudes on the part of certain UNESCO employees, including the listing of the listing of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital”, he said, pointing out that the Arab League would continue following-up closely the UNESCO policies towards Arab causes.