Al-Arab Newspaper decries Algeria for obstructing adoption at the UN of statement on Palestinian cause

The London-based Al-Arab newspaper has decried Algeria for having obstructed at the United Nations the adoption of a statement on the Palestinian cause presented by the Arab group to satisfy its relentless resentment against Morocco.

Algeria’s obstructive attitude on a vital issue for the Arab world has raised real concerns and apprehensions within the Arab Group about the inclination of Algiers to sacrifice the Palestinian issue so as to satisfy its relentless resentment against Morocco and its institutions, stated Al-Arab newspaper.

The popular pan-Arab newspaper recalled that Algeria’s representation to the United Nations obstructed the adoption of a statement issued by the Arab Group in New York, related to the recent Israeli attack on the holy sites in Al-Quds, because the text refers to the role of the Al-Quds Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which is chaired by King Mohammed VI of Morocco.

Actually, the draft Arab statement, which was distributed in New York for adoption, condemned the Israeli attack on the Holy City and recognized the important role of the Al-Quds Committee, chaired by King Mohammed VI, in defending the Holy City and preserving its identity.

The paper added that the Moroccan delegation strongly supported this draft, as did all member states of the Arab Group, with the exception of the Algerian ambassador, who objected to the reference to the Al-Quds Committee, and tried to include a reference to the Algerian President’s support to the Palestinian cause.

The newspaper noted that the Algerian objection is “a new episode in the escalation that the eastern neighbor has been pursuing for months against Morocco, after it failed to reach a consensus among Palestinian factions when it hosted the ‘Palestino-Palestinian’ dialogue last January.”

The author of the article recalled that the Moroccan permanent representative to the United Nations foiled the Algerian ambassador’s desperate attempt to include a reference to the Algerian president’s support for the Palestinian cause in the draft statement, since the text concerned the particular situation in Al-Quds Asharif, where Algeria brings no contribution, unlike the role of King of Morocco as chairman of Al Quds Committee and the role of the King of Jordan in the framework of the Hashemite Guardianship over the Islamic and Christian holy places in Al-Quds.

The media also recalled that Morocco finances more than 86% of Bayt Mal Al Quds funds, while Algeria does not contribute a penny to the agency, stressing that Morocco has strongly condemned the Israeli attacks in Al-Quds, and that King Mohammed VI has instructed the Foreign Ministry to inform Israel of its strong condemnation of the bloody incursions of the police and settlers into Al-Aqsa Mosque.

It is to be recalled that as Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, King Mohammed VI works tirelessly on the diplomatic and political levels and on the ground to defend the Holy City and preserve its religious, cultural, legal and historical status, while improving the living conditions and resilience of its population through its executive arm, Bayt Mal Al-Quds.

The attitude of Algeria, the Arab Summit’s next president, is a harbinger of difficult days and enormous challenges for the Palestinian issue and all Arab causes, as this country unfortunately puts its own anti-Moroccan political calculations before all the vital interests of the Arab world.

In another development, the Palestinian ambassador to Rabat, Jamal Choubki, has commended Morocco’s stance regarding the latest Israeli attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, underlining that the Moroccan position expresses the Kingdom’s rejection of any Israeli measure that may impose a new situation in Al-Quds in order to change the religious and civilizational status of the holy city.

Morocco’s denunciation of the latest Israeli aggressions against Palestinian worshipers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and against the Palestinian people in various regions of the country is in line with the Arab and Muslim position, said the Palestinian diplomat, stressing that the statement issued by the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs set the record straight regarding the Moroccan stance which was officially notified to the Israeli side.