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A two-day Asian Parliamentary Assembly held in Pakistan's strategic Gwadar city passed a unanimous resolution declaring an "unwavering support" for the Palestinian people.
The resolution, which condemned the violation of the international humanitarian law in the Palestine and the war crimes committed by the Zionist regime, was adopted at the culmination of the assembly on Tuesday, an official statement said.
Over 100 parliamentarians from 26 Asian countries, including China, Saudi Arabia and Iran participated in the conference, which also shed light on multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
The $64 billion project, which is the part of Beijing’s most ambitious foreign economic initiative -- One Belt One Road -- aims to connect northwest China to Pakistan's southwestern Gwadar port through a network of roads, railways and pipelines to transport cargo, oil and gas.
This route will provide the shortest route to Chinese cargo destined for the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa.
The "Gwadar Statement" issued after a two-day meeting of the Asian Parliamentarians Assembly's Standing Committee on Political Affairs urged the members of the Assembly to take their mutual cooperation forward.
"While our Asian vision is focused on trade, economic and energy markets, it also carries a much-needed heed to help adapt to climate change and preserve the environment," the statement said.
Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem generally boycotted Israel’s municipal elections Tuesday, with turnout only around 2-5 percent, local media reported. Jerusalem had the lowest turnout of the elections overall, with only 32 percent of residents heading to the polls.Meanwhile, Israeli police arrested four Palestinians who attempted to block the installation of polling boxes in East Jerusalem.More than 6.6 million Israelis were eligible to vote in the elections.According to the Israeli Interior Ministry, around 11,000 polling stations opened in 251 municipalities across the country for the vote.A total of 863 candidates vied for some 251 city, town and regional councils nationwide.Local elections are held every four years in Israel amid partisan rivalries.Like every year, attention is drawn to the Israeli-occupied city of East Jerusalem, where the vast majority of Palestinians have boycotted the vote since Israel captured the city during the 1967 Middle East war.Palestinians, who are considered "permanent residents" under Israeli law, are entitled to cast a ballot but not to run in the elections.According to Israeli official figures, Palestinians make up around 40 percent of Jerusalem's population in both its eastern and western parts.In recent weeks, Palestinian religious figures have urged Palestinian residents of Jerusalem to boycott the vote.Palestinians view participation in Israeli elections as an endorsement of the Israeli occupation of the holy city.Palestine to sever ties with Israel ‘gradually’: ErekatIsrael orders criminal probe into Gaza medic’s deathIsraelis vote in local polls amid Palestinian boycott
Palestinians in East Jerusalem boycott Israeli polls