- Title: SYRIA: Palestinians criticise renewed US sanctions on Syria
- Date: 11th May 2009
- Summary: SLATE INFORMATION
- Embargoed: 26th May 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVAEG3HDHO3GWPBD8NJO38Q17GYJ
- Story Text: Palestinian leader, criticising US sanctions on Syria, calls on President Obama to get Israel to end its settlements in the West Bank and Golan Heights.
A senior Palestinian leader on Saturday (May 9) called on US President Barack Obama to force Israel to end its controversial settlements in the West Bank and Golan Heights.
Ahmad Jibril, Chairman of the PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) said President Obama should stop the Israeli settlements ahead of imposing any sanctions on Syria and Iran.
"Before imposing new sanctions on Syria and Iran, Obama should officially announce that the settlement in the occupied territories whether in West Bank or in Golan, is illegal and decisions should be made to stop this settlement," Jibril said during a follow-up meeting of the conference of Palestinian organisations opposed to peace talks with Israel.
He added: "They think, by using this way, they can tame Syria and Iran. They are wrong and do not know that Syria and Iran are among the opposed states and they would not change their positions supporting the Palestinian issue."
President Barack Obama said on Friday (May 8, 2009) he had renewed sanctions against Syria because it posed a continuing threat to U.S.
interests, despite sending two envoys to Damascus this week to try to improve ties.
In a letter notifying Congress of his decision, Obama accused Damascus of supporting terrorism, pursuing weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, and undermining U.S. and international efforts in trying to stabilise Iraq.
The sanctions, imposed by former President George W. Bush and which are up for renewal annually, prohibit arms exports to Syria, block Syrian airlines from operating in the United States and deny Syrians suspected of being associated with terrorist groups access to the U.S. financial system.
While the United States has made clear it wants better ties with Syria, which appears on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, the renewal of the sanctions shows it is not yet ready for a dramatic improvement.
Obama signed the executive order extending the sanctions on Thursday, shortly after two U.S. envoys met Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem in Damascus.
The visit by senior State Department official Jeffrey Feltman and White House National Security Council official Daniel Shapiro was their second since Obama took office in January and started talking to Damascus. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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