Arab-Israel normalization ‘stab in back’ to Palestine

By Mohamed Majed

GAZA CITY, Palestine

Moves by certain Arab regimes to normalize relations with Israel constitutes a “stab in the back” to the Palestinian people and cause, Gaza-based resistance faction Hamas said Friday.

“The Zionist occupation will always be the main enemy of our people and the Ummah [the worldwide Muslim community],” Hamas spokesman Abdel Latif al-Qanoua told Anadolu Agency.

“Visits to Arab capitals by [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu will not serve to give the latter any legitimacy,” he said.

Al-Qanoua went on to urge Arab states to “halt all forms of normalization with the [Israeli] occupiers”.

Earlier Friday, Hani Marzouk, who is reportedly a spokesman for Netanyahu, was quoted by the Israeli Broadcasting Authority as saying that the prime was planning a visit to Bahrain.

Hours later, however, Netanyahu’s office denied the report, saying Marzouk was not authorized to speak on his behalf.

On Oct. 26, Netanyahu visited Oman, where he held talks with Omani Sultan Qaboos bin Said. It was the first time in 22 years for a top Israeli official to visit the Arab Gulf sultanate.