Oct. 18, 2010 / 10:37 AM

Assad: Talks don't need OK by Arab League

Syrian President Bashar Assad speaks at a news conference in Paris Nv. 13, 2008. UPI/Eco Clement

1 of 2 | Syrian President Bashar Assad speaks at a news conference in Paris Nv. 13, 2008. UPI/Eco Clement | License Photo

TRIPOLI, Libya, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Syrian President Bashar Assad and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas clashed during talks at an Arab League meeting, officials said.

Assad said at the recent meeting in Libya that Palestinians should continue their "resistance" against Israel. But, he said, it is not the Arab League's role to grant Palestinians permission to negotiate with the Israelis, Haaretz reported Monday.

Abbas countered, "The Palestinian problem is an Arab problem, and if the Arab League does not make a decision it means it is washing its hands of the Palestinian problem."

Abbas said if he didn't insist on a settlement freeze there would be no land left to build a Palestinian state.

Sources told the London-based al-Hayat newspaper that Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi said: "How can the Palestinians fight Israel when at the same time they are negotiating?"

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