No way to recognise Israel. Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani stated on Sunday that there is no move to recognize Israel, and he did not meet with his Israeli counterpart during the 78th United Nations General Assembly, which is taking place this week in New York.
Earlier this week, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen told Israeli journalists that he met leaders from several Muslim countries that had not yet recognized Israel during the UNGA.
He also predicted that “six or seven” Muslim countries would normalize relations with Israel as a result of Saudi Arabia’s possible inclusion in the Abraham Accords.
The agreement represents Arab nations willing to normalize relations with Israel, including the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.
“We take decisions based on our interests and the interests of Palestinians,” the Pakistani foreign minister said while talking to Dawn. “Our position is reflected in the statement that I made in the OIC Contact Group on Palestine (earlier this week).”
Asked if he met the Israeli foreign minister during the current UN session, Mr Jilani said: “The Israeli foreign minister has said he met ministers from five, six Muslim nations with whom Israel did not have formal relations. I have not even seen his face.”
Asked if he discussed this issue with other Muslim nations during the 78th UNGA, the foreign minister said: “No discussion. We are not thinking along those lines at all.”
Mr Jilani said he did not see the Israeli minister even in group meetings and “if I see him, I will not be able to recognize him”.
No way to recognise Israel, check the Tweet:
Pakistan have always stood with Palestinian brothers and sisters. And we will continue to do so.
In my statement at UNGA, I renewed Pakistan’s call for an independent State of Palestine,based on pre-67 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as capital.This is in our national interest. https://t.co/ev7nduaAbL
— Jalil Abbas Jilani (@JalilJilani) September 24, 2023
Responding to a question that if there’s a move in Pakistan to recognize Israel, he said: “There is absolutely no move. As I said repeatedly, our position is very clear, and I explained this in my OIC statement.”
The OIC committee of six Muslim foreign ministers in Palestine met this week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly’s 78th session.
The meeting was presided over by the OIC secretary general and attended by ministers and high officials from Palestine, Turkey, Guinea, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Senegal. Pakistan was represented by Mr Jilani.
While reiterating Pakistan’s solidarity with the Palestinian people and emphasizing the importance of implementing relevant UN and OIC resolutions, he reiterated his call for “the establishment of a viable, independent, and contiguous State of Palestine, on the basis of internationally agreed parameters, pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.”
Mr. Jilani expressed grave concern about the continued deterioration of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif.
He strongly condemned Israeli atrocities, such as the murder of innocent civilians, the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the expansion of illegal settlements, settler violence, administrative detentions, and airstrikes on the densely populated Gaza Strip.
According to Mr. Jilani, such violations were committed “in complete disregard for human rights and the rule of law.”
The foreign minister emphasized the importance of holding Israel accountable for its ongoing illegal actions and acts of aggression in order to achieve meaningful deterrence.
