The Speech of President Rashad Al-Alimi at the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit

  Riyadh

My brother, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, President of the Extraordinary Arab and Islamic Summit,

Your Majesties, Excellencies, and Highnesses,

His Excellency Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League,

His Excellency Hussein Ibrahim Taha, Secretary General of Organization of Islamic Cooperation,

At the outset, I would like to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led by my brother, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for their generous hosting of this summit, and for their unwavering positions in support of the issues of our nation, defending its identity, and safeguarding its national security.

Your Majesties, Excellencies, and Highnesses,

It has been a full year since the convening of the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit regarding the brutal Israeli aggression, which continues to this day against the occupied Palestinian territories. The aggression persists with killings and displacement and has even escalated to military operations targeting Lebanon’s sovereignty, placing the entire region on the brink of military escalation, unprecedentedly threatening our national and regional security.

Your Majesties, Excellencies, and Highnesses,

The Republic of Yemen reaffirms its steadfast stance alongside the Palestinian people and supports their legitimate right to resist occupation and establish their independent state. Yemen also condemns the Israeli aggression against Lebanon and fully supports its government’s efforts toward a permanent ceasefire, enhancing the role of its national institutions, and enabling them to exercise sovereignty over its entire territory in accordance with international legitimacy.

We also reiterate our rejection of the practices of the terrorist Houthi militias, which have exacerbated the deterioration of economic and living conditions for the people in the region, leading to the militarization of our seas and regional waters in service of hostile expansionist interests in the region.

Your Majesties, Excellencies, and Highnesses,

It would be fair to acknowledge the importance of the strategic progress made by the joint Arab-Islamic summit over the past year. This progress has framed a collaborative Arab-Islamic approach, strengthened the two-state solution principle, provided it with additional political and diplomatic momentum, and rallied international support in its favor, aligning with the aspirations of the Palestinian people and their legendary resilience.

The ministerial committee formed a year ago succeeded in bolstering the unprecedented diplomatic presence of the Palestinian cause in international forums. This achievement culminated in the United Nations General Assembly’s decision to grant Palestine membership as a state in the UN. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia, in cooperation with European partners, announced the launch of the International Coalition to implement the two-state solution.

There remains a unified Arab and Islamic position on the urgent need to halt the aggression against the Palestinian people and to provide them with immediate assistance as a top priority. Yet, we still need to exert more effort and pressure to achieve these goals, including incorporating the Lebanese file within diplomatic initiatives to ensure the sovereignty and independence of this dear nation.

Your Majesties, Excellencies, and Highnesses,

The joint Arab-Islamic summit has established a new approach to international diplomacy based on accumulation, integration, and realism—a path that can curb projects of expansion, hegemony, and violence. 

It is, therefore, essential to reinforce this experience and make greater use of its collective mechanisms to accelerate regional and international integration to protect the interests and security of our peoples.

We also call for the expansion of Arab diplomatic efforts, the activation of the Arab Peace and Security Council, and the Arab Safety Network, integrating them with the efforts of the joint ministerial committee. This integration should not be limited to the central Palestinian cause but should also extend to addressing regional issues in countries affected by wars and armed conflicts, supporting peace-building efforts, and promoting knowledge and reconstruction projects.

Your Majesties, Excellencies, and Highnesses,

Historical experience has taught us that strengthening the Palestinian national position and enhancing the chances of a two-state solution begins with fortifying the Arab position and strengthening its internal cohesion.

Deterring Israeli aggressive behavior cannot be achieved through proxy wars but rather by resolving inter-Arab disputes, supporting the national Arab state, its identity, and social peace in the face of armed militias, and applying international legitimacy resolutions without selection or procrastination.

Once again, I extend all thanks to our brotherly Kingdom for this pioneering effort. May Allah guide us all in the service of our peoples, their security, stability, and prosperity.

Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.