Arab Parliament Speaker: Palestinian Issue is a Priority; We Condemn Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia

Cairo, October 26 (KUNA) – Speaker of the Arab Parliament, Saad Al-Otaibi, affirmed on Monday that the Palestinian issue tops the parliament’s priorities as the central cause of the Arab nation, while reiterating condemnation of Houthi attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and attempts to target Islamic holy sites.

This came during a speech delivered by Al-Otaibi at the opening of the third session of the fourth legislative term of the Arab Parliament, in which he reaffirmed the parliament’s support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among which is the establishment of their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. He emphasized the continuation of parliamentary and diplomatic efforts to defend these rights across various international forums.

Al-Otaibi stated that the Arab world is facing rapid challenges and transformations that require unifying efforts, prioritizing common interests, and translating aspirations into tangible results, thereby enhancing the role of Arab parliaments in shaping the future through effective parliamentary diplomacy that supports dialogue and understanding and strengthens the presence of Arab positions in international forums.

He condemned the attacks launched by the Houthi militia on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which targeted Islamic holy sites, airports, civilian areas, and economic facilities, resulting in martyrs and casualties. Al-Otaibi called on the international community to take a firm stance to halt Houthi attacks and hold their perpetrators accountable, affirming the Arab Parliament’s full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its support for the measures and steps taken to protect its security, safeguard its assets, and counter any threats targeting its territory.

He also condemned the terrorist attack that targeted a church in Jordan last week, which resulted in casualties and injuries, reaffirming the Arab Parliament’s solidarity with Jordan and its rejection of any actions that could undermine its security and stability.

Al-Otaibi called for an immediate cessation of the war in Sudan, the protection of civilians, and the achievement of a political settlement that guarantees the country’s unity, sovereignty, and stability. He affirmed the Arab Parliament’s support for Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and efforts aimed at its recovery and reconstruction.

He reiterated the Arab Parliament’s support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting any measures that undermine its national unity, while simultaneously affirming support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and unity, and the extension of state authority over its entire territory. He condemned Israeli attacks and called for their cessation and withdrawal from Lebanese lands.

He affirmed the Arab Parliament’s support for efforts to preserve Libya’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as its backing of the Presidential Council’s efforts to achieve Yemeni unity, safeguard its independence, end the suffering of its people, and enhance international navigation security.

On the institutional level, Al-Otaibi emphasized that the coming phase requires the development of parliamentary work to achieve tangible results, keep pace with changes, and anticipate challenges through a comprehensive plan that elevates institutional performance and transforms initiatives into achievements that fulfill desired objectives.

He clarified that his vision for the upcoming phase is based on achieving a qualitative leap in the Arab Parliament’s performance through the development of institutional work, improving committee efficiency, activating parliamentary diplomacy, and enhancing cooperation with other parliaments, alongside focusing on economic, developmental, and technical issues in line with the requirements of the current stage.

He called for leveraging diverse expertise and strengthening consensus on positions to contribute to achieving a tangible impact on parliamentary work and opening broader horizons for the future.

The session is scheduled to discuss a number of political, economic, social, and cultural issues, foremost among them the Palestinian question in light of the report submitted by the State of Palestine, as well as developments in the region, including Houthi attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the latest developments in Libya, Sudan, and Yemen. The session will also review the reports of the four standing committees of the Arab Parliament: the Committee for Foreign, Political, and National Security Affairs; the Committee for Economic and Financial Affairs; the Committee for Legislative, Legal, and Human Rights Affairs; and the Committee for Social, Educational, Cultural, Women’s, and Youth Affairs. (End) M.M. / M.A.K.