Palestinian official criticizes Israel for baring Palestinian officials' entry

A Palestinian official has criticized the Israeli government's recent decision to ban a number of Palestinian figures from entering the West Bank and Gaza Strip, describing the move as an attempt to divert attention from the Mideast peace crisis.

Palestine's Permanent Representative to the Arab League Mohammad Subeih told reporters on Monday that the Israeli decision would constitute an obvious violation of the agreements signed between the Palestinian and Israeli government during the transitional stage.

The Israeli authorities announced last Friday that they would ban the head of the Political Bureau in the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Farouk Qaddoumi and Head of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine Naif Hawatma from entering the West Bank and Gaza Strip on the pretext of their opposition to the peace agreements between the Palestinians and Israelis.

Subeih added that the Oslo Agreements asserted the importance of coordination between the two sides over the entry of personnel into these areas through the recognized passageways.