Morocco's decision to shut liaison bureaus with Israel, conform to its historical stands, FM

Morocco's decision to shut the Israeli liaison bureau in Rabat and the Moroccan liaison bureau in Tel Aviv is in harmony with the kingdom's historical stands regarding peace in the Middle East, Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa told the Voice of America.

Morocco's decision is conform to the stand it expressed during the latest Arab summit held in Cairo and is in harmony with its historical stances regarding the Midddle East peace process, all the more so as it is convinced peace efforts have reached a deadlock following the Israeli premier's announcement on the suspension of the peace process.

Morocco decided last week to close down the Israeli liaison bureau in Rabat and the Moroccan liaison bureau in Tel Aviv-- opened in September 1994. The move came following the failure of the peace process and the inhuman acts perpetrated for weeks by the Israeli forces against Palestinians and the resort to the machinery of war to kill innocent civilians.

Benaissa renewed Morocco's backing to the Palestinian people for the establishment on the land of palestine of a state with al-Quds as capital. "This is an intangible principle," he said.