RAMALLAH, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday renewed his calls on Arabs and Muslims all over the world to visit Jerusalem.
Abbas' earlier call to visit the city was opposed by the some Islamic Palestinian groups which considered the visits of Arabs and Muslims as a sign of normalization with Israel.
State-run Wafa news agency quoted Abbas as saying that "we called and we are still calling our Arab, Muslim and Christian brothers to visit Palestine and Jerusalem."
"Our lands are stolen and confiscated day after day by the Israeli occupation, therefore we all should be united and like one hand to obstruct the attempts of the Israeli government to annul the Palestinian identity," said Abbas.
Abbas made his remarks during his meeting with an Arab Youths delegation that included participants from Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Algeria, Yemen, Sudan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq and Jordan.
"When you visit us and see by your own eyes what's going on in the Palestinian territories, you would know the truth, mainly the severe suffering of the Palestinian people," said Abbas.
He also slammed the Islamic Fatwa (religious decision) as saying "we had a long argument with many Arab and non-Arab figures over visiting Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque, while some of them claimed that the visit is taboo."
"Nothing clear was mentioned in the Quran, the Muslims Holy Book that forbids or prohibits the visit to Jerusalem if it is under any occupation. Allah (God) is the only one who allows or forbids," said Abbas.
Front Page Features