Arab League chief slams US threats on Palestinian UN bid
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Berlin, Sep 7, IRNA -- The Secretary General of the Arab League Nabil al-Araby on Wednesday lashed out at the US for its ongoing pressure on the Palestinian Authority (PA) to abandon its planned UN independence bid, labeling it an 'unacceptable position.'
Asked about America's arm-twisting of the PA to cancel statehood plans, al-Araby told the Hamburg-based weekly news magazine Der Spiegel, 'That's an unacceptable position for us!
The strongest and richest country in the world is incapable of making a commitment.
Instead, someone from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem is telling them what to do.'
Al-Araby voiced hope that this issue would not result in tensions between the Arab League and the US.
He added if the Americans had fulfilled the promises they made many years ago and had forced the Israelis to engage in serious negotiations, the problem would have been solved already.
Al-Araby also lambasted Germany for opposing the Palestinian independence move.
'I heard what (German Chancellor) Angela Merkel said. She cited the Germans' unique responsibility to the Jews. But the Germans also have a responsibility to the Palestinians.'
The top Arab League official vowed to do everything in his power to back the Palestinian independence in the UN later this month.
He stressed that 20 years of negotiations with Israel yielded no results 'because the Israeli government doesn't even want to put an end to the conflict.'
Al-Araby went on to say, 'The Israelis are only serious about gaining more land and expanding the settlements.'
Around 140 countries have so far expressed their support for the diplomatic recognition of Palestine, according to the PA.
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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30553409
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