Iran Slams Western Double Standard on Palestine Issue

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, December 13, 2001

Iran Slams Western Double Standard on Palestine Issue

Iran on Wednesday slammed the West for its double standard on Palestinian crisis, saying that double standard and discrimination against the Palestinians will further exacerbate the situation in the Middle East.

"The big mistake the Westerners have made is that they do not differentiate between the occupier and those under occupation, and the oppressors and the oppressed," Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said during a meeting with German Deputy Foreign Minister Jurgen Chrobog.

He expressed "concern about the Zionist (Israeli) regime's aggressions and crimes against Palestinians," saying that putting pressure on the Palestinian resistance groups and labeling them as "terrorist organizations" are "unacceptable and unjustified."

On Monday, European Union (EU) foreign ministers issued a communique labeling the Palestinian resistance groups as "terrorist networks" and called on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to dismantle them.

"If certain states see themselves indebted to the Zionist regime, why should the Palestinians pay the price?" Kharazi questioned.

"They should not urge the Palestinians to give up the legitimate rights on their behalf," he stressed.

Iran, which does not recognize Israel, firmly supports Palestinians' struggles to restore their legitimate national rights.

Iran Slams EU for Branding Palestinian Groups as "Terrorist Organizations"