Egypt concerned about punishing Palestinians

"Egypt is concerned about punishing the Palestinian people for their democratic choice in the elections that brought Hamas to power over the Palestinian government," said Abul-Gheit, in his speech at a seminar on assisting the Palestinian people, that was read out on his behalf by Assistant Foreign Minister for Multilateral Foreign Relations Naela Gabr.

Abul-Gheit, also, noted that the international community attested to the fairness and transparency of the Palestinian elections.

The top diplomat, in his speech at the symposium, organized by the UN committee on the inalienable rights of the Palestinians, in cooperation with the Untied Nations Information Center in Cairo, urged donor countries to reconsider their decision on withholding assistance to the Palestinians.