2LT International News

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called on the international community, especially the UN, to condemn Israel’s illegal settlements.

In its final communiqu on Sunday, the OIC summit held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia condemned what it described as Israel’s colonial policies in occupied Palestine, and all attempts to change the demographic composition through illegal settlements.

The statement also condemned Israel’s forced displacement of Palestinian citizens in violation of international humanitarian law, calling it a criminal act, and a threat to international peace, security and stability in the Middle East and the world.

The summit slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stated intention to “apply Israeli sovereignty on all of the Jordan Valley, northern Dead Sea and settlements in the occupied West Bank”, describing it as a dangerous escalation, a further serious encroachment on the historical and legal rights of the Palestinian people, and a flagrant breach of the UN Charter and international law.

The 57-member states called on the international community to take all measures required to confront Israel “including boycotting and imposing economic and political sanctions”.

The group urged all OIC member states to raise the issue of Palestine and the illegitimate Israeli occupation during the 74th UN General Assembly next week.

It said peace and security in the Middle East could not be achieved without a full Israeli withdrawal from the 1967 occupied territory of Palestine, including Jerusalem.

The OIC member countries stressed their support for the Palestinian efforts to gain greater international recognition of the State of Palestine based on the borders of June 4, 1967, calling on nations that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to do so as soon as possible.

(Photo credit: OIC).