Mahmoud Ahmadinejad voices Iran's firm, continued support for Palestinian rights

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in a meeting with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo on Wednesday, reiterated Tehran's staunch and irrevocable support for the Palestinian people's rights, and said that Israel is presently in a weak position, FNA reported.

During the meeting held on the sidelines of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit meeting underway in the Egyptian capital today, the Iranian president underlined that Tehran continues supporting the Palestinian nation's rights at all international circles, and "this is the Islamic Republic's strategy and is unchangeable".

President Ahmadinejad urged all Palestinian resistance groups to remain united against Israel in order to defend their rights and people.

He said Israel's strength and power is growing thin, and added, "Israel is in a weak position and if the resistance of the Palestinian nation and groups continues, a better and brighter landscape will be facing the nations."

President Abbas, for his part, thanked Iran and President Ahmadinejad for their support for the Palestinian nation, and said, "Iranian brothers have always been beside the oppressed Palestinian nation in all conditions and the Palestinian nation praises such supports."

He pointed to the pressures and negative positions of the western and certain Arab states after the UN's approval of the status of Palestine as an observer state, and said what Palestinians have gained is a great achievement and they will continue moving on the same path.

In late November, the 193-member General Assembly voted 138-9 with 41 abstentions at the United Nations for a resolution approved granting nonmember observer status to Palestine. Nine members, including Canada, Israel, and the United States, voted against it.