Al-Zahar: I met European minister
Palestinian foreign minister says he met foreign minister of senior European country during recent visit to Arab countries; adds he is sure 'meetings with Europeans will turn into great, continuous wave'
According to al-Zahar, in the meantime he does not plan on revealing who he met with in order not to bring about "unnecessary pressures" on the discussed country to stop its ties with the Palestinian government.
"When these ties with the Europeans are made known, we will announce who are those European elements we are meeting and holding talks with," al-Zahar said.
"We are ready for a dialogue with any European and international element, and will do anything in order to encourage the Europeans to continue helping the Palestinian people. I expect the meetings with the Europeans to turn into a great, continuous wave," he added.
Al-Zahar went on to say that in the visits he held to the Arab countries he felt increasing support for the Palestinian government and the Palestinian people on behalf of the Arab street and among state officials.
"I made the government's plan, which is based on a reform, clear to the senior officials and the groups I met with, and I stressed the Palestinian people's right to resist the occupation," al-Zahar said.
'Continued support for Hamas government'
"In these meeting we discussed ways to overcome the diplomatic and economic siege imposed on the Palestinian people," he added.
Al-Zahar announced that at the end of the month he plans to hold an Asian visit, including China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Iran, and participate in an Arab-Asian conference and an Islamic conference.
He noted that the special fund established by the Arab League for the Palestinian people has already managed to raise USD 50 million. He also thanked Syria, Egypt and Jordan for their support of the Palestinians and said that these countries continue to support the Hamas-led government.
Speaking in Gaza, the Palestinian foreign minister also referred to the Sunday Times report that Israel thwarted a Hamas plot to assassinate Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, saying that the report was wrong and calling it 'cheap information.'
"When has Hamas used the political assassination policy? This is not our way," he said.
