Yemeni president called for closing Israeli offices in the Arab states
The Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has announced that the Israeli offices in certain Arab states, where it was declared they closed off; following the eruption of the Palestinian Intifada continue to work in secret and a greater activity.
In a press conference he held on Thursday, the Yemeni President hoped that "the Arab summit due to be held in the Jordanian capital Amman to stand more effectively with the Palestinians Intifada," adding he is " looking forward to close the offices of the Zionist entity."
However, each of Oman, Qatar, Morocco and Tunisia announced in October and November severing relations with Israel and stressed the closure of the Israeli representation offices in their territories in protest of the bloody confrontation practiced by israel against the Palestinians.
The Yemeni president said that " Israel is the enemy of the Islamic nation and not only the enemy for Palestine." He called for the continuity of " the Palestinian Intifada until victory is attained." President Saleh added: " All the Israeli leaders are Hawks and no doves are among them as might thought to be, and in particular Barak 'the fox' who differs not from Sharon. They are two faces for the one coin."
He added It is wrong to trust the Israeli politicians in ending the Israeli occupation of the Arab territories and attains a just and fair solution for the cause of Palestine, adding that escalation of the Palestinian Intifada will, at most lead to the establishment of the palestinian state by means of force because israel only understands the logic of force.
He expected that results of the Arab summit due to be held by the end of March in Amman to be "between the previous summits (in position), especially in regard to restoring back Arab solidarity and the efforts to attain inter- Arab reconciliation." He also expected the coming summit to take a stronger position in supporting the Palestinian Intifada and the cause of Palestine in general.
He continued: " I am looking forward to see all going to the summit conference while all Israeli representation offices are closed in the Arab states where these offices do exist, especially as some of these offices which were declared shut down or its activities were frozen, resumed its activities in secret."
President Saleh asserted that: " although Yemen is a poor country with poor resources, yet it had met its obligations, especially the implementation of the Arab summit resolutions pertinent to supporting the Palestinian Intifada and the Palestinian people. President Saleh added that several days ago the last payment of its share in support to the Intifada estimated at USD 14 million was paid to the national Palestinian Authority."
He explained that the tour of the US secretary of state to the region did not include Yemen because this tour had aimed to rebuild the international alliance against Iraq. He continued that Powell heard from the Arab leaders statements which made the US administration reconsiders its position regarding the suffering of the Iraqi people and might ( the US) work to lift the embargo imposed on Iraq.
The Yemeni president moreover announced that a ministerial change might take place and not a cabinet reshuffle as it was state.