Patriarch Sabah calls for independent Palestinian state

The patriarch of the Latin community in Jerusalem on Tuesday called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in Palestinian territories.

In a Jerusalem press conference on Tuesday, Patriarch al-Sabah said the establishment of such a Palestinian state will be the sole solution for ending "the sufferings and the catastrophe of the Palestinians."

"If Israel wants peace, it will be attained. If not this means its intentions are evil," Al-Sabah said, describig the situation in the region as drastic and gloomy. "If peace is not be achieved the alternative will be more bloodshed and violence," he said.

Meanwhile, on Monday the Israeli Ambassador to the US Eliyahu Ben-Elissar said "there is no Zionism without Jerusalem" adding that Israel will never give up the city.