President Mohammed Zia-ul-Haq of Pakistan, speaking as chairman of the Islamic Conference, charged today that Israel is “the most destabilizing factor in the Middle East” and warned that the Palestinian problem could “explode at any moment.”
In a speech to the UN General Assembly devoted mainly to the Iraqi-Iranian war, Zia said the Moslem world fully supports the Palestinian cause and the leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organization in their efforts to liberate their territory “from Zionist rule and occupation.”
He accused Israel of defying UN resolutions and continuing to occupy Arab land by force. Zia said the Moslem world “solutes” the 13 countries which have removed their diplomatic missions from Jerusalem and called for further actions by the world community against Israel.
The Pakistani President also attacked the United States. He said that while it claims vital economic and strategic interests in the Middle East, the U.S. is pursuing a policy of “hostile confrontation” with the Arab world by extending open-ended support of Israel. The Islamic Conference was scheduled to meet here in closed session later today to discuss the Persian Gulf war.
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