Chief of Mauritanian Union of Democratic Forces condemns relations with Israel

The chairman of the federation of the Mauritanian opposition Union of Democratic Forces, Ahmad Ould Daddah, condemned the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Mauritania and described this measure as "treason."

In an interview with Monte Carlo radio on Wednesday, Ould Daddah added that the position of the UDF in Mauritania is that peace should be made within certain conditions, especially Israel's complete and unconditional withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories in south Lebanon, the Golan and the Palestinian territories, as well as the city of Jerusalem.

He also stressed the importance of establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as a capital. He continued, "We have called to have normalization as a result for achieving these demands and conditions." He added that the people of Mauritania and public opinion regret this step made by the government on Thursday in establishing diplomatic relations with Israel.

Meanwhlie, the BBC said that Mauritania's ambassador in Washington, Ahmad Ould Khaleifa did not attend the signing ceremony held in commemoration of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Mauritania.

The radio added, quoting well-informed sources, that the ambassador may have resigned in protest of the recent measures (in establishing relations with Israel) taken by Mauritania.