Arab League hails EU statement on palestinian state

The Arab League welcomed on Friday the European Union statement expressing support to the Palestinian people's right to proclaim an independent state.

Saeed Kamal, the Arab league secretary general's assistant for Palestinian affairs, hailed the EU decision which he said shows international community's opposition to Israel's occupation and expansion policy.

The European countries made the move few days after a number of EU diplomats visited the Orient House in Palestine and after the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, toured several European capitals to lobby support to the proclamation of a Palestinian state by May 4 as provided for in the peace accords signed with Israel.

The United States and several European countries have asked the Palestinian leader to delay the state proclamation until the end of the Israeli general elections scheduled for May 17.