Assembly/AU/Decl.2(XXIX) Page 1 DECLARATION ON THE SITUATION IN PALESTINE AND THE MIDDLE EAST Doc. EX.CL/1019(XXI) WE, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, meeting in the Twenty Ninth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 3 to 4 July 2017: Having Taken Note of the Report on the Situation in Palestine and the Middle East and Recalling all previous resolutions and decisions of the OAU/AU on the situation in Palestine for the maintenance of a lasting peace and security in the Middle East; Reaffirming our total support for the Palestinian people in their just struggle against Israeli occupation, under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas for the restoration of their legitimate right to establish an independent Palestinian State peacefully co-existing with the State of Israel; Also Reaffirming our desire to find a peaceful solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict in accordance with the principles of international laws and all relevant resolutions; Calling For the establishment of the Palestinian State within the June 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital in implementation of the principle of the two-state solution and UN resolution 194 on the return of Palestinian refugees; Reiterating our call for the resumption of negotiations between the two sides with a view to reaching a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East and Expressing our support for all initiatives aimed at finding a lasting solution within a fixed timeframe; Stressing our strong position in support of the Palestinian question and the African Union’s continued search for a comprehensive and just peace for the Palestinian people; Appealing to all Member States to deploy efforts for the realization of this endeavour in their international relations and in accordance with previous relevant decisions and Taking into Account the solid foundation on which the African Union is established, notably people’s freedom to determine their destiny, Considering Israel an occupying state and therefore cooperation by the countries of the continent with this State should not be at the expense of African support for the Palestinian question; Reaffirming that settlements built in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights are illegal, Condemning the Israeli policy designed to change the landscape and demographic status of Palestine and imposing the status quo, particularly in the vicinity of East Jerusalem as well as the judaization campaign aimed at changing the Islamic and the Christian character of the holy city and, Also Condemning the policy of