Assembly/AU/Decl.2(XXIV) Page 1 DECLARATION ON THE SITUATION IN PALESTINE AND THE MIDDLE EAST Doc. Assembly/AU/9(XXIV) We, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, having met at our Twenty Fourth Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 30 to 31 January 2015; Taking Note of the Report on the Situation in the Middle East and Palestine; and Recalling all resolutions and decisions adopted by the OAU/AU on the Situation in Palestine and the Middle East; Reiterating our full support to the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle against Israeli occupation, under the leadership of the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people; Reaffirming our support for the peaceful resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict in accordance with the principles of international law and all United Nations relevant resolutions, which guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the borders of June1967,and its capital, East Jerusalem; Further Reaffirming the right of the Palestinian people to establish their own Palestinian Independent State, and supporting full membership of the State of Palestine at the United Nations and in the international agencies and accession to international conventions and protocols; Welcoming the Decision of the Swedish National Assembly, Spanish Parliament, the British House of Commons and the French National Assembly to recognize the independent State of Palestine; Commending the efforts exerted by President Mahmoud Abbas to achieve comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and supports his efforts in achieving the Palestinian reconciliation; Condemning all Israeli measures on the city of Jerusalem, through the policy of Judaization, the demolition of houses, the expulsion and destruction of historic monuments of the Islamic and Christian holy sites and the expansion of settlements in the city; Further Condemning Israel for withholding Palestinian funds, which constitute a cornerstone of the Palestinian economy, and calling on the international community to put pressure on Israel to release withheld Palestinian tax funds; Hereby: 1. CALL UPON the international community to exert pressure on Israel to stop all settlement activities, release Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and, DEMAND