Maher: Israeli withdrawal from Gaza a first step

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher underlined that the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza Strip should be the first step in an Israeli complete withdrawal from all occupied Palestinian lands to June 4th 1967.

In a statement following a meeting with a U.S congressional delegation in Cairo, Maher condemned attempts that aim at accusing Arabs and Moslems of being terrorists, expressing deep concern over oppression and injustice that the Arabs face due to this accusation.

He also called for holding an international conference on the phenomena of terrorism and means of fighting it.

He also asserted that reforms should come from inside the Arab countries in accordance with their needs and circumstances, asserting that foreign attempts to impose reforms will never succeed.