Cairo, May 21, 2022, SPA-- The 33rd extraordinary emergency conference of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (AIPU) kicked off today in Cairo under the theme "Al-Aqsa Mosque and all Islamic and Christian holy sites, our top priority", chaired by the Bahraini Parliament Speaker, Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (AIPU) President, Fawzia bint Abdullah Zainal, with the participation of heads of Arab parliaments and legislative councils. The Saudi delegation to the conference was headed by the Speaker of the Shura Council, Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh. Zainal said in her opening speech that the meeting is taking place under exceptional circumstances and great challenges, underlining the importance of the role of Arab parliamentarians in defending Arab rights and sovereignty, and the importance of Arab solidarity and efforts to defend the Arab causes on top of which the Palestinian cause. The AIPU President explained that the challenges that the region is going through require strong stances and rallying efforts to overcome them, stressing the importance of joining hands to create a better future for all. For his part, the President of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), Rawhi Fattouh, reiterated the importance of implementing all the decisions that were taken at various levels to protect and defend Jerusalem and its sanctities to face the dangers facing it, and the importance of putting all decisions into practical application, starting with the commitment to what was stated the Arab Peace Initiative. Meanwhile, Kuwaiti National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim stressed the importance of Palestinian national reconciliation as the only strategic condition for strengthening the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and ending the state of political fragmentation. --SPA 21:46 LOCAL TIME 18:46 GMT 0013 www.spa.gov.sa/w1736287