Date : 04/06/2009
DAMASCUS, June 4 (KUNA) -- Several Palestinian factions criticized on
Thursday the speech by U.S. President Barack Obama at the University of Cairo,
saying that it does not have anything new to add or help the Palestinian issue.
The talk about a Palestinian state is "only an illusion in light of Israeli
on going building of settlements," the factions said adding that "Obama not
calling for the removal of settlements does not possess any fundamental change
in U.S. policy, particularly with regard to the Arab-Israeli conflict and the
Palestinian issue," the factions said in a press release issued here.
The factions also stressed importance of their refusal to discuss any
conditions or obligations before an end to the Israeli occupation of all
occupied Palestinian and Arab territories.
The statement noted that if there was a real and sincere intention to end
the conflict in the Middle East, mechanisms have to be set up to end the
occupation, dismantling of settlements, and withdraw from all occupied
Palestinian and Arab territories including Jerusalem, the Syrian Golan Heights
and southern Lebanon.
The factions also called on the Arab and Islamic worlds to emphasize the
need to transform words into action when it comes to reconciliation with the
west.
The statement also said ignoring the right of Palestinians to return
demonstrates the lack of credibility by the United States to find a solution
which is based on United Nations resolutions and the international community.
The call by the U.S. President to end what he described as "violence"
against Israel is like calling for an end to Palestinian resistance which
contradicts principles of international law, which gives any sovereign
country the right to defend its land in light of occupation, the statement
added. (end)
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