Saudi Gazette report THE Kingdom has reaffirmed that any recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel or the transfer of any country’s embassy to the holy city is null and void. “Such a measure only leads to incite tension in the Middle East and weakens the chances of reaching a comprehensive, lasting and just solution based on the two-state solution,” said Ambassador Abdullah Al-Muallami, Saudi Arabia's permanent representative to the United Nations. Taking part in the open debate on “the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” at the UN Security Council on Thursday, he said that it is time for the Security Council to take a firm stance on Iran and to affirm that the international community will not tolerate the hostile and terrorist practices of Iran that are destabilizing international and regional peace. “It is also time to deal seriously with Hezbollah and to detect its terrorist operations in Syria, Lebanon and other parts of the world.” Al-Muallami said Jerusalem is the flower of cities, which is the confluence of the three heavenly religions, or should be an oasis of peace, coexistence and love. “I would like to disclose that we agree with speeches of the representatives of the Arab Group, the Organizations of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Non-Aligned Movement in this regard. Jerusalem is the eternal historical capital of Palestine and it has been at the heart of deliberations at the Security Council over the last 50 years,” he was quoted by Saudi Press Agency (SPA) as saying. The ambassador noted that the Security Council adopted a number of resolutions, including resolutions No. 465, 476, 478 and 2334, all confirming that all unilateral measures aimed at changing the legal and historical status of Jerusalem or imposing a new reality are null and void. “We have recognized that all international conventions, since the Oslo agreement in 1993 till now, affirmed that Jerusalem is one of the issues of the final comprehensive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” he said. Al-Muallami disclosed that UN resolutions have confirmed that all Israeli measures toward Jerusalem, including the decision to annex it to Israel, control its future and fate, evict the Palestinian citizens, construction of settlements and housing units on its territory, confiscate the property of its people, declare Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, or recognize this Declaration, are null and void and violate laws, norms or morality. He pointed out that the Arab Peace Initiative presented by Saudi Arabia in 2002 came to affirm the Arab and Muslim readiness for peace in accordance with the international legitimate resolutions through ending the Israeli occupation of all Arab territories, including Syrian Arab Golan and the occupied Lebanese and Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirms that any measure taken by the Israel in Jerusalem is void and ineffectual. Such actions lead to fuel tension in the region and Middle East, undermine the peace process and weaken the opportunities to reaching a comprehensive, lasting and just solution based on the two-state solution and establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on borders of June 1967 with Jerusalem as its capital.” On Iran, Al-Muallami said Iran continues to exercise its blatant interference in the internal affairs of the Arab countries, including Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and others, and continues to spread, support and adopt terrorism. “Iran is the main supporter of the terrorist Hezbollah group, which exercises power and influence in Lebanon, ignites the war in Syria, and perpetrates worst practices of killing, siege and ethnic cleansing. On the other side, Iran continues to support the forces of Houthi militias in Yemen, and smuggling missiles for them where they always launched them against the Saudi cities, emphasizing that about 90 missiles were fired, targeting Saudi Arabia.” “All missiles launched on my country were proved to you in UN independent reports that they were manufactured in Iran. These acts are clear and explicit violations of the Security Council resolutions No. 2216 and no. 2231,” he said. The ambassador noted that it is the time for the Council to take a firm stance on Iran, and to affirm that the international community will not stand idly by and tolerate these terrorist practices that are destabilizing international and regional peace. “It is also time to deal seriously with Hezbollah and detect its terrorist operations in Syria, Lebanon and other parts of the world and to counter its illegal arming and practices beyond the Lebanese constitution.” Al-Muallami stressed that the Syrian crisis is in a delicate phase, saying Saudi Arabia affirms that it can only be resolved through a Syrian consensus that meets the aspirations of the people and ends their suffering based on the Geneva Declaration 1 and Security Council resolution No. 2254. He said the humane suffering in Syria continues, as the forces of the ruling regime in Syria, backed by its allies, especially Iran’s military forces and Hezbollah terrorist forces, are working to destroy the Syrian people and use chemical weapons against them, confirmed by independent UN reports, pointing out that there are more than three million people being held in inaccessible places. He affirmed that Saudi Arabia reiterates its call for immediate humanitarian assistance to beneficiaries throughout Syria, regardless of their ethnic, religious, sectarian or political affiliations. “The Kingdom calls for the speedy release of detainees and abductees and to clarify the situation of those who are absent, in addition to facilitate the return of the displaced people and refugees to their homes and places,” he added.