The Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of India H. E. Mr. Saleh Mohd. Al-Ghamdi attended as Chief Guest a seminar organized on the occasion of International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people by Indian Council of World Affairs in New Delhi on Friday: 18th January 2008 which was chaired by H. E. Mr. E. Ahmad, Minister of State for External Affairs of India.
In his speech on the occasion, the Ambassador highlighted the struggle of the Palestinian people for their legitimate rights since 1948 and the tragic conditions they are living in due to continued Israeli occupation, military operations and crippling restrictions imposed on them including the economic siege and construction of illegal settlements and the apartheid wall, stressing that all these measures and restrictions imposed by Israel are in total contravention of international law and humanitarian norms as well as of various agreements signed by Israeli governments with the Palestinian people under the auspices of international community.
The Ambassador referred to Saudi Arabia's firm support for the Palestinian people's just struggle, for their legitimate rights, and the Kingdom's tireless efforts to find a just solution to the Palestinian problem. In this regard, he especially mentioned the historic peace initiative presented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud which was adopted as 'Arab Peace Initiative' by Beirut Arab Summit in 2002 and the recent Arab Summit held in Riyadh in 2007.
Ambassador Al-Ghamdi stressed that this courageous initiative accommodated all requirements for a just and permanent peace in the Middle East as it offers for the first time a concrete proposal based on resolutions of international legitimacy. He regretted the fact that Israel has not yet responded to this just and sincere initiative that enjoys unanimous Arab support.
Referring to the understanding reached by the Palestinians and Israelis at the recent Annapolis conference, the Ambassador emphasized that Israel needs to realize that it can't have peace and land together and that real peace can not be established unless legitimate rights of the Palestinian people are achieved.
The Ambassador called upon international community to force Israel to accept the Arab Peace initiative and put an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people on the basis of Land for Peace principle.
He lauded India's principled and unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and said that India, having good relations with both the Palestinians and Israelis, can play an important supporting role in the collective endeavour to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
The seminar was attended Arab Ambassadors accredited in New Delhi including the Ambassador of the State of Palestine.
