Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said Israeli “terrorist attempts” to fight the Palestinians were "definitely doomed to fail."
"This (Zionist) regime has blatantly approved and put into effect the terrorism law and has reneged on all its commitments," Khatami said in a telephone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdelaziz, reported the official Iranian news agency, IRNA.
"We, Muslims, regret the repression of our Muslim brothers and sisters by Zionist regime," Khatami said, adding, "One cannot use force language to talk to an oppressed nation who feels frustrated and such actions are definitely doomed to fail."
Khatami condemned as "flagrant manifestation of war crimes" the Israeli killings of Palestinians and the occupation of Orient House, the unofficial Palestinian headquarters in east Jerusalem.
He called on the 56-member Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), including Saudi Arabia, to take effective measures in "actual support for the oppressed Palestinian nation, the Intifada and condemnation of Israeli crimes."
Khatami also urged Islamic countries to break ties with Israel and pressure the supporters of Israel, IRNA added.
"Iran and Saudi Arabia can call on the UN Security Council, the Arab and Islamic countries, international organizations, the European Union and Russia to intervene and grind a halt to the Israeli massacre, destruction and crimes in occupied Palestine," he said.
For his part, the Saudi crown prince stressed the need for
Tehran-Riyadh cooperation in helping the Palestinians.
"The Islamic countries should work out fundamental plans and take practical steps in defending the Palestinians and register a good record in the history of Islam," the prince was quoted as saying.
Iran does not recognize Israel's right to exist and has firmly opposed the 1993 Oslo Accords that paved the way for Palestinian self-rule, without resulting in an independent nation, or resolution of Jerusalem's occupation and the right of return issues – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
