Qatar minister calls for Israel to stop blocking peace

Israel must allow the establishment of a Palestinian state, stop building colonial settlements in occupied territories, and end its aggressiveness, Qatar's foreign minister recently demanded at an international peace conference on the Middle East.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani told those gathered at the Paris meeting that the international community must compel Israel to implement the Arab peace initiative.
 
"Our position in the State of Qatar vis-a-vis the peace process is the same Arab position which is committed to international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab peace initiative for 2002, which includes the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 4 June 1967 borders, with its capital in East Jerusalem, and resolving the Palestinian refugee issue on the basis of the provisions of international law and international legitimacy resolutions, especially resolution 194,” Al-Thani said.

Al-Thani said the crisis will come to an end only when the parties involved agree to create a just, comprehensive and lasting settlement. The agreement needs to be internationally recognized and hold legitimacy in accordance with international laws.
 
"It is unrealistic to continue the occupation and the denial of the rights of the Palestinian people and the building of settlements on the lands of others," Al-Thani said.