Islamabad : Dr Feras from Joaan Bin Jassim Qawasmeh Academy for Defence Studies, Qatar, recognising the value of the OIC to meaningful progress, stressed the significance of Muslim-majority states presenting a consensus against settlement expansion in Occupied Palestine.
Dr Qawasmeh was participating a webinar on “A united front against illegal settlement expansion: the role of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation” convened here by Institute of Regional Studies (IRS).
Dr Qawasmeh underlined the need for greater regional diplomacy to leverage grass-root campaigns including those that involve Palestinian-led movements focused against settlement expansion. The discussion underlined how Pakistan continued to back the two-state solution, the sanctity of Palestinian liberties and a clear stance against any illegal aggression or violence that threatens Palestinian statehood. His talk put a premium on countries to navigate complex challenges that prevent sufficient international scrutiny towards the expanding settlement challenge considering how rising arson attacks and impediments to life carry on.
His talk delivered a critical value addition on the role of key movements, such as the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), in lending international scrutiny and awareness to the settlement issue.
These considerations were part of policy recommendations, including a set pipeline of Palestinian rights advocates and organised groupings that can derive traction with Pakistan and key Gulf partners within the OIC, to collectively advance their own consensus against any forced annexation with grassroots advocacy.
Hannan Hussain from IRS observed that the talk provided an in-depth assessment of the conditions on-ground in occupied West Bank, where rising tensions between recipient populations and those spearheading violence, deserve ample attention.
