Palestinians must unite

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki says unity among Palestinian groups is the only way to solve the problems of Palestine.

The resistance of Hamas led to the defeat of the Zionist regime in the Gaza Strip, despite the Israelis’ barbarity toward the Gazans, Mottaki said in a meeting with Hamas Political Bureau chief Khaled Meshaal in Tehran on Monday.

The Israeli army launched a massive military offensive, known as Operation Cast Lead, against the Gaza Strip from December 2008 to January 2009. More than 1,400 Palestinians were killed during the three-week offensive, which inflicted $1.6 billion in damage on the Gaza economy.

Mottaki says the arrogant powers and Israel were trying to undermine Hamas but failed.

“The Zionist regime invalidated all Arab peace initiatives regarding the issues of refugees, (Jerusalem) Al-Quds, and borders,” Mottaki said.

Meshaal said that the so-called peace plans were futile and impracticable.

Resistance against Israel is the only way to restore the rights of the Palestinian people, the Hamas official added.

Meshaal also met with Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on Monday.

Larijani described Hamas as “the symbol of resistance against the Zionist regime” and its expansionist policies.

He stressed that Iran has always supported the Palestinians since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

The Majlis speaker added that there is no more effective weapon than resistance for restoring the Palestinians’ rights, adding that the enemies have not been able to eradicate the resistance.

Larijani criticized the US policy toward Palestine and said the United States has not recognized the Palestinians’ basic rights despite all the promises made.

Meshaal called Iran a true supporter of the Palestinian nation and stated that Hamas will persist in resistance.