LAHORE: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has firmly rejected any externally imposed solutions to the Palestine issue, asserting that no resolution can be accepted without the consent of the Palestinian people.
Speaking at a press conference held at Jamia Ashrafia, the JUI leader said that the founder of Pakistan had clearly termed Israel an “illegitimate state,” and Pakistan must remain committed to that position. “We will never recognize Israel,” he stated, emphasizing Pakistan’s historical and moral stance on the Palestinian cause.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman strongly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, noting that he has been declared a war criminal by the International Criminal Court (ICC). He accused the United States of shielding a “global criminal” and supporting Israeli aggression in Gaza and the wider region.
He also lauded the countries that boycotted Netanyahu’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly, calling it a bold stand for justice and international law. “Such actions send a strong message that the world is not blind to Israeli atrocities,” he added.
Referring to previous international efforts, the JUI chief criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s so-called “Deal of the Century” – a controversial peace plan for the Middle East that proposed limited Palestinian autonomy while legitimizing Israeli settlements. He described the plan as “a blatant attempt to formalize occupation under the guise of peace” and declared it unacceptable. “No plan has legitimacy unless it reflects the will and aspirations of the Palestinian people,” he asserted.
