Palestinian figures back Ahmadinejad

Prominent Palestinian figures condemn the Palestinian Authority (PA) spokesman’s insulting remarks about the Iranian president, endorsing Iran’s supports for the rights of Palestinians.

“The offensive remarks of Palestinian Authority Spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the International Quds Day is indicative of the PA’s irresponsibility and serious crisis between the negotiating team and the Israelis in direct talks,” Fars news agency quoted Hamas political leader Khezr Habib as saying on Sunday.

On Friday, addressing large crowds of people at the Quds Day rally, President Ahmadinejad accused the Middle East mediators who have been engaged in direct talks with Israeli officials of being accomplices to Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians, saying, “Only Palestinians could decide on their own lands not foreign powers.”

A day later, Abu Rudeineh reportedly questioned Ahmadinejad’s right to Iran’s presidency and said, “He is not entitled to talk about Palestine, or the Palestinian Authority chief,” The Jerusalem Post reported.

Meanwhile, Kayed al-Ghoul, a member of the Central Committee of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine reiterated Iran and other Muslim states’ rights to defend the Palestinians.

“As Palestinian nationals, we feel obliged to show gratitude to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and other Iranian dignitaries for their support for the Palestinian nation and the issue of Palestine,” al-Ghoul said.

Condemning Abu Rudeineh’s statements, Secretary of the Hamas faction in the Palestinian parliament, Mushir al-Masri, also blamed the PA for “turning into a tool in the hands of the US and the Israeli regime” to “win their satisfaction.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas held the first round of direct talks in Washington on Thursday.

The Palestinian and Israeli officials are set to meet again on September 14 for the second round of direct talks in Cairo, Egypt.