Walid Abu Ali with Hafiz Saeed
President Abbas's govt has taken the decision to remove envoy Walid Abu Ali after India issued a strongly worded condemnation. Palestinian Authority said it regrets the presence of Ali at a Hafiz Saeed's rally in Pakistan. Ali had graced the Difa-e-Pakistan rally in Rawalpindi.
The Palestinian Authority has recalled its ambassador to Pakistan Walid Abu Ali after he was found attending a rally organised by terrorist Hafiz Saeed . Sources say, President Abbas's government in Palestine has taken the decision to remove him after India issued a strongly worded condemnation.
The Palestinian Authority has said it regrets the presence of its ambassador to Pakistan at a rally organised by UN-designated terrorist and Jamat-ul-Dawa leader Hafiz Saeed.
India strongly objected to the Palestinian ambassador Walid Abu Ali gracing the Difa-e-Pakistan rally in Rawalpindi.
"We have seen reports in this regard, the Palestinians have assured India that the matter has been taken seriously," Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
Saeed, whose organisation was earlier known as Lashkar-e-Taiba, is the mastermind of the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. Saeed has been designated an international terrorists by the UN and the United States, but roams free in Pakistan and participates in political activities.
PALESTINE CONVEYS DEEP REGRETS
India summoned the Palestinian envoy in New Delhi and issued a demarche after which the Palestinian side conveyed deep regrets over the incident and assured New Delhi that the Palestinian Authority has taken serious cognisance of the matter and deal with this appropriately.
The Palestinian side also said they valued Palestine's relations with India and will not engage with those who support terrorist activities against India.
Ministry of External Affairs in a note said on Saturday that it has taken note of the Palestinian response.
It is important to point out here that India voted in favour of a resolution in the UN General Assembly that sought to condemn the US's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
In a vote that could annoy a friend like Israel, India chose to not drop its decades old policy of supporting the formation of an independent Palestine.
This came just a little over a month before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also planning a short trip to Palestine in February. During his visit to Israel this year, Mr Modi had skipped Palestine.