LOC23:57
20:57 GMT
CAIRO, Jan 17 (KUNA) -- The Arab League Secretary-General Ahmad Abul-Gheit strongly denounced the decision of the United States to freeze USD 65 million of its contribution to the United Nations Relief Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The decision, announced yesterday, brought into question the US commitment to the efforts to reach a fair, comprehensive and permanent settlement to the Palestine cause, he said in a press release on Wednesday.
"This decision also cast serious doubt on the US role as a credible mediator in the Middle East peace process, which could generate negative and large-scale impacts on several fronts.
"It could undermine the chances to resume the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, foment tensions in the region and encourage Israel to persist in its extremist policies," Abul-Gheit cautioned.
Citing the recurrent Israeli violations of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the settlement expansions, he said the US move could lead to more extremism and intolerance, which in turn could push the region into a new cycle of violence.
In this connection, the League chief paid tribute to the Palestinian refugees and people at large for the valiance and perseverance they showed in their struggle against the Israeli occupation authorities. (end)
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