New York Sheikh Khalifa called upon the International Community to take urgent steps in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations to force the Israeli Government to stop its aggressive policies against Palestinian people and to withdraw completely and unconditionally from all the occupied Arab and Palestinian territories since 1967, including Jerusalem and the Syrian Golan. The UAE President said that this year"s celebration comes under a critical stage as a result of the continuous Israeli occupation of the Palestinian land, and its violations of the conventions, humanitarian laws and resolutions of relevant international legitimacy. "After we had been encouraged by the efforts of U.S. administration and the Quartet, based on the roadmap envisioning the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, we and the international community were surprised that the Israeli government once again revealed the true intentions of hostilities against the Palestinians to disrupt and thwart any efforts to help achieve their aspirations in their own legitimate and independent country," he said and added: "Israel was not content with intimidating the Palestinian people and exercising the worst forms of aggression against them, especially in Gaza strip, as witnessed by the report of UN investigation commission known as the Goldstone Commission, but it persisted in the closure policy of Gaza strip and the cities of the West Bank and it continued its aggression and illegal settlement besides building the separation wall deep into the West Bank and Jerusalem."--MORE --SPA 14:57 LOCAL TIME 11:57 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/724062