AL calls on UN to unveil pro-Israeli settlement firms

CAIRO (AA) – An Arab League (AL) official on Tuesday called on the United Nations to release a list of firms which cooperate with the Israeli settlement in the occupied Arab territories, Egyptian media reported.</p> <p>The call was voiced by AL's Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Said Abu Ali during the inauguration of 92nd conference for the liaison officers of the regional offices for boycotting Israel, according to MENA news agency.</p> <p>Abu Ali, according to MENA, said that the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (known as the BDS movement) has expanded its activities in support of the Arab boycott of Israel.</p> <p>BDS is a global campaign devoted to pressuring Israel — economically and politically — to end its ongoing violations of international law.</p> <p>According to its official website, the campaign was launched with a view “to ending international support for Israel's oppression of Palestinians and pressuring Israel to comply with international law.”</p> <p>The movement has called on economic, cultural and academic institutions worldwide to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territory; acknowledge the rights of its Arab citizens; and allow the return of Palestinian refugees forced to flee their homes in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.</p> <p>Abo Ali also stressed the “unwavering” Arab stance in support of the Palestinian cause, describing it as the Arabs’ main cause.</p> <p>He noted that the boycott is a pressing power for achieving a just peace so that the Palestinian people can establish their independent state and end the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian and Arab territories.