Wednesday, March 28, 2007

DAR AL ISLAM: ARABS & MOSLEMS WILL NOT RECOGNIZE ISRAEL UNTIL THERE IS A PALESTINIAN STATE

Arab, Muslim peoples not to recognize Israel: Muslim leader

A visiting Muslim leader warned here Wednesday that Arab and Muslim peoples would not recognize Israel unless a free Palestinian state was set up.

Dr. Yussef al-Qaradawi, chairman of the Jerusalem International Foundation Board of Trustees, made the warning during a press symposium on the sidelines of the Fifth Conference of the Jerusalem International Foundation, which entered its last day here Wednesday.

Israel should respect the Palestinian people's right to have an independent state, and to respect Muslim sanctities ahead of a Muslim recognition of Israel's right to exist, al-Qaradawi added.

"We will not accept normalization of relations with the Zionist entity unless a real Palestinian state is established, owning its airspace, border and the self-defense right. If so, we may ponder over the recognition of Israel if necessary," he said.

For his part, addressing the same symposium, Mohamed Omar al-Zubair, a Saudi religious leader, appreciated the favorable outcomes of the Fifth Conference of the Jerusalem International Foundation.

He also thanked Algerian President Abdelazis Bouteflika for his full care for the successful conference, hailing his role in supporting the Palestinian issue, boosting Arab and Muslim unity and efforts to create reconciliation and peace in Algeria.

The conference kicked off here on Monday, with the attendance of prominent religious leaders, thinkers and intellectuals who are interested in the issue of Jerusalem.

The gathering was attended by Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem, Hamas leader Khaled Meshall, Iraqi Muslim Ulema Authority Chief Khalid al-Dari and several others. It will wrap up Wednesday evening.


Pertinent Links:

1) Arab, Muslim peoples not to recognize Israel: Muslim leader

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