UNITED NATIONS, Dec 2: Pakistan has called for a fair and just resolution of the Palestinian issue as it is essential to restore peace and avoid what it terms an 'iron curtain' from descending between the Muslim countries and countries supporting Israel's illegal occupation of the Palestinian lands.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly debate on the situation in Middle East on Wednesday, Pakistan's permanent representative Munir Akram, urged the international community to carefully consider the implications of continued conflict in the Middle East.

He said: "The tragedy of Palestine is an open wound inflicted on the psyche of every Muslim" and this wound must not be allowed to continue to fester. Pakistan's envoy said the vision of the two states - Palestine and Israel - living side by side in peace and security should be protected.

Munir Akram said: "If we want to see the incoming Palestinian political dispensation emerge as a credible partner in peace efforts, we will have to strengthen its capacity to deal with internal and external security, humanitarian and economic challenges."

He said it should be exposed to demands to take action against violence emanating from the occupied territories. Pakistan's representative stressed the need for a deep commitment on the part of the international community for peace on the basis of two-state solution to generate support for its initiative among the Palestinian people.

Mr Akram said to this end, several actions were required, including that Israel should immediately release all political prisoners, enabling them to take part in the political process.

Secondly, he said, it should suspend its settlement policies and the Palestinian territories in Gaza and the West Bank should be treated as a single territorial unit and in accordance with the roadmap, a Palestinian state will have to be established.

He also asked that in coordination with United Nations, Israel should take concrete steps to improve humanitarian conditions in the occupied territories. These affirmation, Munir Akram said, were essential for a credible revival of the peace process. -APP