IRAN: Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh meets Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and former President Hashemi Rafsanjani

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh held talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran on Saturday (December 9). He briefed the Iranian leader about conditions in the West Bank and Gaza strip. The Hamas-led government is close to bankruptcy due to a Western aid boycott aimed at pressing it to change policies toward Israel. Western nations and moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have pressured Hamas to recognise Israel, renounce violence and accept existing interim peace accords. Hamas's refusal has been partly to blame for the collapse of unity government talks with Abbas. Iran's support for the Palestinians has grown more vocal since President Ahmadinejad came to power in August 2005. The former Revolutionary Guardsman has called the Israeli state a "tumour" which must be "wiped off the map". Haniyeh arrived in Tehran on Thursday (December 7) for a four-day official visit. Earlier on Saturday, Haniyeh met former President Hashemi Rafsanjani. Haniyeh is also due to meet Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as part of his official visit. Haniyeh told Iranians on Friday (December 8) that Palestinians would never bow to pressure to recognise Israel and would keep fighting thanks in part to support from Iran. Addressing worshippers at Friday prayers in Tehran, Haniyeh said Israeli military aggression against Palestinians had increased since his Hamas government took power in March. Iran, like Hamas, refuses to recognise the state of Israel and has sent $120 million so far this year to the Palestinian Authority towards a shortfall caused by the boycott.

ITN Source | December 10, 2006

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