Assembly/AU/Dec.396(XVIII) Page 1 DECISION ON THE SITUATION IN PALESTINE AND THE MIDDLE EAST Doc: EX.CL/708(XX) The Assembly, 1. TAKES NOTE of the Report on the Situation in Palestine and the Middle East; and RECALLS all resolutions and decisions of the Organization of African Unity/ African Union on the Situation in Palestine and to achieve lasting peace and security in the Middle East; 2. REAFFIRMS its full support to the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle to end the Israeli occupation in order to establish their independent state, under the leadership of the PLO, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people; 3. ALSO REAFFIRMS its support for the peaceful resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict in accordance with the principles of international law and all relevant United Nations resolutions to ensure the establishment of an independent Palestinian State on the borders of June 1967, with Al-quds Al-sharif (Jerusalem) as its capital; 4. FURTHER REAFFIRMS its support for the Palestinians' efforts obtain the full membership for the State of Palestine in the United Nations and its specialized agencies; 5. WELCOMES the acceptance of Palestine as a full member of the Organization of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and CONSIDERS it as an important step in the right direction and to entrench the rights of the Palestinian people, to achieve their sovereignty over their territory and homeland through the accession of their State to the United Nations and its organizations; 6. REITERATES its full support for the efforts made by the President of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Chairman of the State of Palestine, President Mahmoud Abbas, aimed at achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace at the Middle East and SUPPORTS the efforts of Palestinian and Arab leaders in achieving reconciliation in the Question of Palestine; 7. CONDEMNS all Israeli actions related to changing the cultural landmarks and historic city of Jerusalem, through the policy Judaization, by demolition of houses and the expulsion and destruction of historic monuments of Islamic and Christian sanctities, the construction of a “Gate Maghareba” Bridge, the apartheid wall and the expansion of illegal settlements in and around occupied East Jerusalem; 8. HOLDS Israel responsible for the faltering peace process and negotiations, and CONDEMNS the continuation of expansion of settlements that the United