Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit has welcomed a UN Security Council resolution that presses Israel to immediately and completely halt all settlement activities on occupied Palestinian lands.

In a statement Saturday, Abul Gheit congratulated the Palestinian people and government on the "pivotal" resolution, which was endorsed by a big majority and after more than 35 years of the issuance of a similar resolution. 

This resolution reflects big international support for the historical struggle of the Palestinian people to attain their rights, atop of which the establishment of their independent State, with East Jerusalem as its capital, the AL chief said.

He expected the resolution to build momentum that would force Israel to abide by its content, as well as other relevant international resolutions.

Abul Gheit said that a conference that France will host in January to revive the peace process could very well serve as an important step toward reaching a comprehensive and just solution to the Palestinian issue. 

He stressed, yet again, the AL's constant support for the Palestinian issue, which he called the "central" Arab issue.

The Arab peace initiative will continue to serve as an integrated and balanced framework for a final settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict, Abul Gheit noted.

Source: MENA