Address by His Excellency

Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijiri(*)

In the name of Allah the Merciful, the Compassionate

Excellency Dr. Ahmed Heleel, Minister of Islamic Waqfs, Affairs and Holy Sites, representative of His Majesty,

Excellency Dr. Khaled Tawqan, Minister of Education of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,

Eminence Sheikh Nader Abdulaziz Nuri, President of the Palestine Charity Commission,

Excellencies and Eminencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatu Allah talla wa barakatuh,

First of all, I would like to thank the worthy scholars and researchers who have enriched this axis with their valuable presentations and recommendations which will be given due consideration when we tackle, with the help of Allah, the implementation of this conference's recommendations. I also wish to thank all the attendees who have commented, in prose and in verse, on the contents of the presentations and entertained us with words that moved us and stimulated our woe, for speaking about Palestine and Al Quds in particular is really heart-rending.

I believe, as do many of those present here and elsewhere in the Islamic world, that the conflict imposed on our Ummah is first of all a civilisational conflict if we take into consideration the religious, political, economic and social dimensions of this conflict. Other peoples have thoroughly prepared for what they wished to attain and they have attained it. We, unfortunately, were too remiss in our readiness and in mobilising powers. Our hope lies in the possibility that we might draw lessons from what we have experienced and that despair finds no way to our hearts. The strong believer is requested and expected to seek perfection in his work. The Prophet (PBUH) said : “If the day of judgement arrives and one of you has a plant in his hand, then let him plant it if he can before leaving”. Islam is a religion that calls for action within a framework of solidarity, complementarity, love and brotherly feelings. Christians in the Islamic world are our brothers in the homeland, in civilisation and in confronting the various challenges facing us. At the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, we carry out our activities in pursuit of the wellbeing of the children of the Arab and Islamic Ummah with its diverse religious denominations and ethnic communities, making no difference between them whatsoever, our ultimate aim is to strengthen the Ummah and to unify its ranks.

Excellencies and Eminencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have no desire to make this a long speech, but I do want to underscore what the first speaker of this session said, namely that Israel is legislating in the occupied territories in defiance of international law, just as Israel's protector is legislating today in Iraq and Afghanistan heedless of all international laws. They are acolytes in this crime against our Ummah. Israel's previous dark deeds in Palestine, the occupation, destruction of towns and villages and the murder of its children, and its actions today are tantamount to the genocide of the Palestinian people, for Israel is an arbitrary force that does not recognise international law or human morals. It is from this angle that we should perceive the nature of our conflict with Israel.

I beseech the Almighty to bolster our endeavour and unify our ranks and voice in the quest of justice.

Thank you for your attention.

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatu Allah taala wa barakatuh.

(*) Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization -ISESCO-.