Qaddoumi highlights Syria's stances

Senior Palestinian official on Wednesday praised Syria's "Steadfastness" as the biggest supporter of the Palestinians and backed a Palestinian leader depiction of Israel as the "Zionist enemy."

In statements to journalists after holding talks with Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara, Chairman of the PLO Political Department and Head of Fateh Executive Committee Farouk al-Qaddoumi said "Syria is backing us through the Syrian steadfastness which is our biggest espousal."

"In spite of Syria's having occupied lands she is calling for peace and that is the cause that reveals the Israeli rejecting of peace position," Qaddoumi said.

Asked about a commentary on the Palestinian Presidential Candidate Mahmoud Abbas saying that "Israel is the Zionist enemy", Qaddoumi said Israel is a racist state occupying the Arab territories by force and does not want to pullout in spite of the political impasse she found herself facing due to the International Court of Justice resolutions which said it is a law trespasser.

Qaddoumi urged Israel to withdraw from the occupied Golan Heights questioning "if Israel wants peace, then is (Israel) not pulling out from the occupied Golan Heights and stop buildings of settlements and making extensions as it wants to remake the occupation in the West bank and Gaza in a way that deludes the world."

The Palestinian official noted the value of cooperation among the Arab states in a way that supports the pan-Arab security.