GAZA, May 4 (UPI) -- Palestinian religious leaders called on Arab and Muslim peoples to organize protests after Friday sermons rejecting the siege imposed on the Palestinian people.
The head of the Association of Palestinian Ulemas and Member of Parliament Marwan Abu Ras told a press conference in Gaza Thursday, "the religious leaders of the Islamic nation should dedicate their sermons on Friday to supporting the Palestinian cause and steadfastness of the Palestinian people and finding ways for lifting the financial and economic embargo imposed by the U.S. administration on Palestinian banks."
Abu Ras stressed that "popular protests should be calm, peaceful and well-organized to avoid any clash between peoples and rulers."
He hailed the call by Palestinian foreign minister in the Hamas-led government Mahmoud Zahhar to collect $1 from every Arab and Muslim to support the resistance of the Palestinian people.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh at the end of a cabinet meeting Tuesday called on Arab and Islamic peoples to make Friday a "day of solidarity" with the Palestinian people against the embargo imposed by Israel and the U.S. administration.
Abu Ras said Arab and Islamic leaders "should not yield to foreign pressures but must stand up in support of the Palestinian people and facilitate the channeling of funds to the Palestinians by opening accounts and banks."
The United States and the European Union, the Palestinian Authority's largest donor, suspended financial assistance after Hamas won general elections and formed the new government, refusing to recognize Israel, abandon violence and acknowledge past agreements signed between the PA and Israel.
