Assembly/AU/Decl.4(XXV) Page 1 DECLARATION ON THE SITUATION IN PALESTINE AND THE MIDDLE EAST Doc. Assembly/AU/9(XXV) We, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, having met at our Twenty Fifth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union in Johannesburg, South Africa from 14 to 15 June 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; Reaffirming our full support to the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle against Israeli occupation, under the leadership of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people; Reiterating our support for the peaceful resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict in accordance with the principles of international law and all relevant United Nations Resolutions, which have advanced the clarion call for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the borders of June 1967, and its capital, East Jerusalem; and the implementation of the UN Resolution 194 on the return of the Palestinian refugees; 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 the Israeli statements that are rejecting the two-state solution, which could undermine the peace process between both sides and represent a challenge to all international resolutions; Also Condemning the continued Israeli occupation of the Palestinian land and all measures in 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 and tax revenues, which constitute a cornerstone of the Palestinian economy, and calling upon the international community to put pressure on Israel to release Palestinian tax funds that it has withheld; WE hereby: 1. CALL ON the international community to exert pressure on Israel to stop all settlement activities, release Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and, EQUALLY DEMAND that Israel refrains from arbitrary arrests of