Algerian refuses normalization with Israel

Algerian minister of state for foreign affairs Abdul Aziz Balkhadem has stressed his country's rejection to establishing any relations with Israel as far as it occupies an Arab land in the Golan, South Lebanon and Palestine and does not permit the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and the return back of the Palestinian refugees to their homeland.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the Algerian daily al-Khabar Balkhadem said that Algeria's cooperation with the European Union should serve the two sides rather than only serving Europe at the expense of Algeria.

The Algerian minister criticized the European position towards terrorism currently taking place in Algeria, noting that security is integrated because Europe's security is linked to that of the countries of the Southern Mediterranean.