Algerian FM Ramtane Lamamra: We Respect The Sovereign Decision Of Some Arab Countries To Establish Relations With Israel

Algerian FM Ramtane Lamamra said in an October 24, 2021 interview on Russia Today TV that the Arabs should unite around the cause of the Palestinian people and their rights, because division among Arabs does not serve the Palestinians. However, he said that he respects the sovereign decision made by some Arab countries to establish relations with Israel, such as Morocco, even though he does not agree with such decisions. Lamamra expressed support for the Arab Peace Initiative and said that Israel should withdraw from territory it is occupying.

Ramtane Lamamra: "Regarding the Arab position vis-à-vis the Arab-Israeli conflict, we hope for one thing, but reality forces something else upon us. What we hope and strive to achieve is the unification of the Arabs over the minimal solidarity with the Palestinian people and their rights, because we know full well that division in the ranks of the Arab countries does not serve the interests of the Palestinian people.

"Therefore, we accept the reality that a significant number of Arab countries decided to establish bilateral diplomatic ties with Israel. That is the sovereign decision of every country, even though we do not want this, and we do not believe that this is the best way to support the Palestinian cause and to attain a just and comprehensive peace in the region.

"On the contrary, we believe that uniting the Arabs in support of the Palestinians requires that we preserve, advance, and support the Arab Peace Initiative, which was adopted by the Beirut Summit in 2002.

"Thus, we support a just peace that will guarantee the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people, as well as the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all the occupied Arab lands, including the occupied Syrian Golan. Therefore, [we are talking about] a comprehensive peace.

"Some [Arabs] countries took a certain sovereign position, and that is the responsibility of each of those Arab countries. Our position does not conform to that position, but as a matter of principle, we respect the sovereign decisions of every Arab country in this matter and in any other matter. However, we are now talking about a certain Arab country [i.e. Morocco] seeking the support and help of Israel, in a region where Israel has had no military presence or influence."