CAIRO, July 25 (Saba) -- The Arab League said Sunday statements of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu considering Jerusalem as an eternal capital of Israel an emphasis of the Israeli strategy to maintain its occupation and isolation, according to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

Arab League's Assistant Secretary General for Palestine Affairs Ambassador Mohammad Sabeeh said, at the opening of the 84th conference of observers of the affairs of Palestinians in Arab countries, that the statements of Israeli officials raise doubts on whether Israel is ready to provide "atmospheres that enable the resumption of the peace process or not."

They also undermine all international, regional, Arab, and Palestinian efforts and initiatives that aim to ensure the success of the peace talks, he said at the conference that was attended by officials from Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).

He pointed out that the five-day conference was held as the Palestinian cause "goes through its most dangerous phase." Jerusalem witnesses unprecedented efforts to Judaize it and change its geographic, demographic, religious, historic, cultural and civil characteristics, he said.

On his part, head of the conference and director of the refugee affairs department at the Palestinian Liberation Organization Dr. Zakariya Al-Agha said the Palestinian cause was going through difficult times.

The United States was keen on starting direct talks between the Palestinians and Israelis without setting a deadline or ending the Israeli settlement activities in Palestinian territories, he noted.

He called on Arab countries to put pressure on the United States to find a just solution for the cause, demanding a settlement of the inter-Palestinian divisions.

The conference will discuss several issues including Jerusalem, the separation wall, settlement activities, the conditions of Palestinian refugees, the developments of the Palestinian uprising, the efforts of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and development in Palestine.


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