The General Authority for Youth and Culture organized, Thursday, the closing ceremony of the international research contest entitled "The Arab and Islamic Efforts in Serving Al-Quds" with sponsorship from PALM Strategic Initiatives Centre. It was attended by Palestinian researchers and several arbitrators from different universities.

Dozens of researchers from Palestine and several Arab and Islamic countries participated in the research contest. 27 arbitrators from inside and outside Palestine arbitrated the papers. Research Khaled Kiwan won the first place; Rabab Al-Sobaki won the second; and Ali Asaliya and Hala Al-Harazin won the third.

Ahmed Muhaisen, Head of the General Authority for Youth and Culture, said that the goal of this contest is to raise the awareness of the importance of the scientific research in the fields related to the Palestinian cause generally and the cause of Al-Quds specifically. He also referred to the risks faced by the Holy City and the brutal violations practiced inside Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa by the Israeli occupation forces, who desecrate Al-Masjid and perform Talmudic rituals inside its yards in an attempt to change the identity of the holy places in preparation for the establishment of this "alleged temple". They also confiscate lands and arrests citizens. Such practices led to tackle the question of Al-Quds as it is a central cause for the Arab and Islamic nations.

Ahmed Abu Halabiya, Head of the International Al-Quds Institute and rapporteur of Al-Quds Committee in the Legislative Council, noted that the addressing the question of Al-Quds in this contest comes in parallel with the hard reality of the Al-Quds and Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa. He also confirmed that the Al-Quds is an independent region for the Islamic country and is a culture that must be delivered to all people because it needs financial, cultural, mental and media support until liberation.

Ibrahim Alzaeem, Manager of PALM Strategic Initiatives Centre, said that the main goal of this contest is to mobilize the Arab and Islamic researchers towards the Palestinian cause. He also noted that 2022 was the year of Al-Quds and the next year will be the year of prisoners. PALM Strategic will focus on the cause of prisoners for its significance.