Tunisia stresses the necessity of safeguarding Jerusalem and preserving its Arab and Islamic identity

Tunis, Aug 27 (KUNA) -- Tunisia on Thursday stressed the necessity of preserving the city of Jerusalem and safeguarding its Arab and Islamic identity, reaffirming its steadfast support for the Palestinian cause. The Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that this position was expressed during the participation of Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Nefzi in the 23rd Extraordinary Session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which was dedicated to examining developments concerning the Palestinian cause and Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem). The session also saw the election of the new OIC Secretary-General, Mauritanian diplomat Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. Nefzi reiterated Tunisia’s firm and principled stance on the Palestinian issue, affirming his country’s support for the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to establish their independent, fully sovereign state on all their land, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. He also called for international protection for the Palestinian people, the lifting of the siege imposed on them, and the guarantee of unhindered access for humanitarian aid, in order to put an end to their suffering. The Tunisian minister emphasized the need to preserve Al-Quds Al-Sharif, the first of the two Qiblas and the third of the holy mosques, and to protect its Arab and Islamic identity, as well as its Islamic and Christian holy sites, rejecting all unilateral and illegal measures aimed at altering its legal, historical, or demographic status. Nefzi called for intensifying joint Arab and Islamic action across various international forums to protect the holy city and preserve its authentic identity. (End) SHB M / FAS