KUWAIT CITY, Nov 1: The National Assembly discussed the Israeli attacks on Gaza in Wednesday’s special session. Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah delivered the government’s statement during the session. He said the current situation in Gaza evokes sadness and anger, asserting that the killing machine of the occupying entity killed thousands of innocent and unarmed people including women and children. He also cited the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, in addition to the destruction of thousands of houses and infrastructure. Since 1948, the occupying entity has been believing that it can fortify its presence by emptying the land and kicking out people to be forgotten as years pass by. This attitude has prompted Palestinians to intensify their efforts to fight for their rights, passing such convictions from one generation to another. Israel insists on launching big and small wars on Palestinians, ignoring the fact that it failed to tame them or break their strong will and lofty pride.

It also failed to remove the Palestinian issue from the minds of Arabs, Muslims, and the peace and justice-loving people of the free world, the minister stated. He stressed that since the independence of Kuwait, it has been working hard to expose the Israeli failure to convince the international community that the issue will not be resolved without the comprehensive and fair foundations toward the freedom of the people of Palestine. He attributed the growing anger in the Arab and Muslim world to the stubbornness and abusive attitude of the occupying entity, as well as its double standards in dealing with the issue. He pointed out such an attitude makes people wonder why the lives of Palestinians are worthless in the international consciousness, why such crimes are committed against the Palestinians without monitoring or punishment, why the criminal is not punished, why the international law is not applied on Palestinians, and why the international law is enforced selectively.

He said these questions remain valid until a final and fair settlement of the issue is concluded, that is, once the Palestinians have an independent State. He added Israel continues to commit crimes against the Palestinians, believing that it is above the international law. He wondered about the suspicious silence of the international community over the war crimes committed by Israel. He thinks this is an indication that the international community uses double standards in dealing with Palestinians, while the United Nations Security Council failed to impose a ceasefire.

Since the beginning of the violent acts, Kuwait has been calling for regional and international solidarity to address the issue, stop the Israeli attacks, secure a safe passage to deliver humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza, and thwart attempts to displace the people of Gaza. He confirmed that Kuwait held several meetings with the Foreign Affairs ministers of friendly and sisterly countries to push for the immediate implementation of the ceasefire. Also, every MP was given three to five minutes to talk about the issue.

All of them agreed on supporting the Palestinian cause and condemning the Israeli attacks. They stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire, strongly criticized the double standards in dealing with Israel in terms of the implementation of international laws and United Nations resolutions, and rejected all forms of normalizing relations with Israel. After the discussion, the Assembly issued a statement; including its recommendations regarding the issue as follows:

1. Report Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the military of countries around the world and assign the Inter-Parliamentary Group to carry out the relevant media, legal and political procedures;
2. Affirm solidarity with the people in Gaza and all Palestinians and support their right to an independent State with control over their sacred places;
3. Leaders of Arab and Muslim countries should adopt positions similar to that of the people of Kuwait and the free world to take certain steps like opening the borders with Gaza to break the blockade imposed
   on it and reject the normalization of relations with the Zionist entity;
4. The government should help the Palestinian teachers in Kuwait to meet their families who are stranded outside Gaza as soon as possible;
5. The government and the private sector should establish a fund for the reconstruction of Gaza, and urge other governments, businesspersons, and chambers of commerce and industry to support the fund and boycott the Zionist entity;
6. The government should take tough measures against the very few individuals who might communicate with the Zionist entity as per the Amiri Decree to wage war against Zionist gangs and the law on boycotting Israel;
7. The government should establish Kuwait Humanitarian City in Gaza to provide public utilities including houses, schools, and clinics in order to help the inhabitants of Gaza to thwart attempts to displace them;
8. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Health should coordinate their efforts to receive the injured, especially women and children, to be treated in Kuwait;
9. Al-Majles TV (National Assembly TV) should broadcast the special session with translations of significant parts in different languages;
10. Continue closing the Kuwaiti sky and land to those planning to commit crimes against Palestinians;
11. Reject all forms of normalizing relations with the Zionist entity and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or any public institution should refrain from signing joint statements with any sisterly or friendly country or any regional or international organization if the statement calls for or promotes normalization of ties with Israel, condemns the Palestinian resistance to the Zionist occupation or treats the victim and perpetrator as equals;
12. The government should take the relevant diplomatic action to immediately impose a ceasefire, protect civilians and reject the displacement of the people of Gaza;
13. The public and official position of Kuwait is united – to support the Palestinian cause. In addition, MP Osama Al-Shaheen was elected as Assembly Secretary, while MP Falah Al-Hajri was elected as Observer. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent on Tuesday a cable of congratulation to MP Osama Al- Shaheen on his new post as the National Assembly’s Secretary.

In the cable, His Highness wished Al- Shaheen all the best to fulfill this high position, and further success in serving Kuwait. His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent on Tuesday a cable of congratulation to MP Osama Al-Shaheen on his new post as the National Assembly’s Secretary.

In the cable, His Highness wished Al- Shaheen further success in serving his country. His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah sent on Tuesday a cable of congratulation to MP Osama Al-Shaheen on his new post as the National Assembly’s Secretary. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent Tuesday a cable of congratulations to Dr. Falah Al-Hajri, National Assembly Observer. His Highness the Amir congratulated Dr.

Al-Hajri on being voted to the post by acclamation and wished him all success in his endeavors. His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent Tuesday a cable of congratulations to Dr. Falah Al-Hajri, National Assembly Observer.

His Highness the Crown Prince congratulated Dr. Al-Hajri on being voted to the post by acclamation and wished him all success in his endeavors. His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah sent Tuesday a cable of congratulations to Dr. Falah Al-Hajri, National Assembly Observer. His Highness the Prime Minister congratulated Dr. Al-Hajri on being voted to the post by acclamation and wished him all success in his endeavors. The National Assembly formed permanent committees and elected the members during its inaugural session in the second round of the 17th legislative term on Tuesday.

By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff and Agencies