Arab League condemns Gingrich’s Palestinian remarks

Published 19:31 11.12.11     Latest update 19:31 11.12.11 

League official handling Palestinian affairs says Republican presidential candidate’s statement that Palestinians an ‘invented people’ was ‘irresponsible and dangerous.’

By The Associated Press


A senior Arab League official has condemned Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich's statement that the Palestinians are an "invented" people.

The League official handling Palestinian affairs, Mohammed Sobeih, says Gingrich's statement was "irresponsible and dangerous."

	Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (L) attacks former speaker of the House Newt Gingrich during the ABC News GOP Presidential debate on the campus of Drake University on December 10, 2011.
	Photo by: AFP

Sobeih told reporters at the League's Cairo headquarters Sunday that Gingrich is sacrificing U.S.¬ interests for votes, and that the comments run counter to democratic values and international agreements.

Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich on Saturday defended his statement that the Palestinians are an "invented" people, brushing aside criticism that he had unnecessarily made the Mideast peace process more difficult.

"Is what I said factually true? Yes," Gingrich said during a candidate debate in which he drew applause for asserting that it was time someone spoke the truth about the nature of Israel's struggle with the Palestinians.

In footage released Friday, the former House speaker told the Jewish Channel, a U.S. cable TV network, that the Palestinians were an "invented people."


"Remember, there was no Palestine as a state - (it was) part of the Ottoman Empire. I think we have an invented Palestinian people who are in fact Arabs and historically part of the Arab community and they had the chance to go many places," Gingrich said according to a video excerpt posted online.
   
http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/arab-league-condemns-gingrich-s-palestinian-remarks-1.400856

Palestine takes presidency of Arab League

Published Sunday 11/09/2011 (updated) 12/09/2011 19:56

 

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas takes part in the Arab summit in
Saudi Arabia, March 28, 2007. [MaanImages/Pool/PPO/Omar Rashid]

CAIRO (Ma'an) -- Palestine took presidency of the Arab League on Sunday as the council met for its 136th session in Cairo.

Palestine's representative Barakat al-Farra replaced Oman's representative as president of the Arab League. On Tuesday, Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki will take over as president of the ministerial council.

Al-Farra said he hoped the 136th session would meet the Arab people's ambitions, the official PA news agency Wafa reported.

"Everybody is looking forward to this session which coincides with major events in the Arab world, namely the Arab Spring, and so it should meet ambitions," Al-Farra said.

Regarding Palestine, the session should offer political support to the upcoming bid for full UN membership, he said.

Al-Farra highlighted that Arab countries should support the PA financially as the government has struggled to pay civil servant wages. The Arab League should support Palestinian institutions in Jerusalem, he added.

"Arab countries that have not fulfilled their pledges made during the successive Arab League summits should pay their dues, and there should be extra financial aid to thwart Israel's threats to cut off tax revenues to the PA," Al-Farra said.

The media in Arab countries should help the PA to spread a clear message to the international community confirming that the Palestinian right to self-determination is inalienable and guaranteed by UN resolutions, he added.

Permanent representatives, foreign ministers and the Arab League follow-up committee will hold meetings on the sidelines of the council's session.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=419279