Middle East News
EXTRA: Jerusalem 'key to peace,' Abbas tells Arab League summit
Mar 27, 2010, 15:02 GMT
Sirte, Libya - Jerusalem is the 'key to peace,' Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday told leaders of the 22-member Arab League gathered for an annual summit in Libya.
'Jerusalem is the jewel in the crown, it is the gateway and the key to peace,' Abbas said in his address, adding that Israel's 'occupation' of the city 'raises tension, aggravates the situation, and ignites wars in the region and the world.'
'We reaffirm our devotion to each grain of soil, every stone, and all of Jerusalem. We are determined to defend the capital of Palestine,' he said.
Israel annexed the old city of East Jerusalem after the 1967 Middle East war and has defended recently announced plans to continue building there, saying East Jerusalem is an integral part of Israel.
The Palestinians and Arab states hope to make East Jerusalem the capital of an independent Palestinian state.
'We welcome all genuine efforts to achieve peace, and we welcome the initiatives announced by (US) President (Barack) Obama, particularly with regard to the two-state solution,' Abbas said.
'We have been engaged with the US administration in a continuous effort to translate these guidelines into reality.'
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