Abed Rabu: McCain statements approve the occupation of Jerusalem

Wednesday March 19, 2008 16:44 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News

Yasser Abed Rabu, the General Secretary of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) on Wednesday - condemned the statement made by U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain, in which he supported calls to make Jerusalem Israel's capital.

Yasser Abed Rabu - file 2007

The Palestinian official said "when McCain supported this idea he legitimized the Israeli occupation of Jerusalem, and placed himself in a conflicting position with international resolutions, that his country was part of."

Abed Rabu added, "McCain's statement contradicts the USA position as a sponsor state for peace in the region, and [is] in direct contradiction with President Bush's agenda, which is the two state solution."

UN resolutions state that Israel occupied the city of Jerusalem in 1967, and that the city remains part of the occupied Palestinian territories. Abed Rabu stated, "the Palestinian cause is not to be used in election campaigns."

The Palestinian official concluded his statements by saying, "McCain's statements are very dangerous, and we are waiting for a response from the US administration."

McCain arrived in Israel on Monday to meet with Israeli officials. Today he visited the city of Jerusalem, where he issued his statement.

ramallah | diplomacy | news report ghassanb at imemc dot org