Moussa: "Core issue of Israeli occupation" must end before conditions are made.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFmoussa jintao 298.88(photo credit: AP)
Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa on Thursday criticized conditions set by Western governments and Israel that say the Hamas-led Palestinian government must renounce violence and recognize Israel before official contacts are possible.
"The Palestinian question is one of military occupation. It is not a terrorist issue. And it is one that should be solved through negotiations," Moussa said at a news conference during a meeting between China and Arab governments.
"We say that Palestine cannot be forced to accept any of these so-called conditions," he said.
Moussa was responding to a request for comment on China's appeal this week for the Palestinian government to renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept "agreements already reached" conditions set by Israel and Western governments for official contact.
Moussa said the "core issue" is that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, which he said should end before any conditions can be introduced.
A week ago, Moussa told The Jerusalem Post at the World Economic Forum in Sharm E-Sheikh that Israel had to reexamine the 2002 Beirut peace initiative.
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