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Manama: Bahrain's foreign ministry has rejected allegations that its call for the formation of a regional forum that includes Israel implied abandoning Arabs' legitimate rights or giving up the Palestinian cause.
Defending the proposal put forward last week by Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa before the UN general assembly, the ministry said that several Arab countries have based their negotiations with the Israelis on the Arab peace initiative.
Peace talks
"This principle has been valued for instance by the Gulf Cooperation Council countries on several occasions, the latest of which is the resumption of the peace talks between the Syrians and the Israelis under the auspices of Turkey," Ambassador Hamad Al Amer said in a statement released by the ministry.
"Bahrain upholds the legitimate rights of the Arabs, and in particular, those of the Palestinian people. Bahrain remains fully committed to supporting the Palestinian people as well as their struggle for their complete and full rights through the ongoing negotiations with Israel to establish an independent Palestinian state with Al Quds as its capital," Al Amer said.
Bahrain attributed its historic call to the need for Arabs not to remain passive and to take the initiative in addressing their own crucial issues and in making realistic and practical suggestions that will safeguard their rights.
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