Arabs Reach Accord on Supporting Palestinians: Qatari FM

Arab foreign ministers have reached a "secret" decision on how to support the Palestinian intifada, or uprising, against Israeli occupation at an emergency meeting on the current Mideast situation, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabir al-Thani said late Wednesday in Cairo.

"We have made a decision on how to provide support for the Palestinian intifada, but it should not be publicized right now," Sheikh Hamad told reporters at the conclusion of the ministerial meeting, held at the headquarters of the Arab League (AL) in Cairo.

Sheikh Hamad, chairman of the meeting, said that the issue on activating Arab boycott against Israel is yet to be further discussed, adding that it is up to individual Arab country to decide whether they will cut off their existing diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.

"These Arab countries should by no means damage interests of other Arab brothers when they develop ties with Israel," Sheikh Hamad stressed, adding that his country has decided to freeze all contacts with Israel.

The AL arranged the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the request of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat amid escalating Israeli aggressions against Palestinians.

The Middle East has been witnessing incessant deadly clashes between the Palestinians and Israelis since last September, in which over 700 people, mostly Palestinians, have been killed.






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