West Bank, March 5, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) - The member of the Central Committee of Fatah movement, the official of International Relations and the former Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath, strongly condemned the remarks of Ricardo Martinelli the President of Panama who said that Israel "is the monitor of the capital of the world, united Jerusalem, and author of sovereignty"
"The Statements of Mr. Martinelli are not only an insult to the Palestinian people, Arab, Christian and Islamic worlds, but also an insult to the international law" Dr. Shaath said.

"After Mr. Martinelli took the presidency of the Republic of Panama, its policy was changed fully to become the only Latin American country that challenges the position of the continent and vote along with Israel and Micronesia in the United Nations. Now the President of Panama challenges the international law and its neighbors in Israel." he added.

In his visit to the region, the Panamanian president went in a tour accompanied by Israeli officers to religious sites in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Dr. Shaath said: "The Republic of Panama is free to establish relations with any country in the world, including Israel. But this should not include the support of the continued Israeli violations of the international law and human rights of the Palestinian people."

He added: "Now we wonder if this means that Panama abandoned the respect of the international law and Rio Declaration and defiance the United Nations resolutions."

"The international system as a whole including the United States of America, the European Union, the Vatican, all Latin American countries, the Islamic world and the rest of the international community through frequent resolutions condemned the occupation and the colonial Israeli policy towards East Jerusalem. Thus, Mr. Martinelli statements are very troubling, so we call upon our Arab brothers and our friends in Latin America to take a clear position of Panama and its president." he said.

Finally, Dr. Nabil Shaath said that as the Panamanian President declared that" Israel is the monitor of Jerusalem" he should explain his words to the Palestinian families who lose their homes every week and the permissions to reside in Jerusalem. Also, he has to clarify the situation to millions of Christians and Muslims who are not allowed to reach the holy places in it. "