Cairo, Sept 10: Arabs hope that India will not abandon its traditional support for Palestinian self-rule during the visit of the Israeli Prime Minister, the head of the Arab League has said. Speaking to reporters after a meeting of Arab foreign ministers, secretary-general Amr Moussa said yesterday he hoped India wouldn't back Israel in a way that ``helps Israel escalate its killing and destruction to the Palestinian territories.''
``Of course we can't tie any country's hands, (whether) to receive a certain official or not,'' Moussa said, ``but we hope India will remain sincere to its relations with Arabs and not give support to an aggressive country, an occupier, who rejected peace.''
``We are expecting more than that from India,'' Moussa said. At the same news conference, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said Indian officials assured him that they would abide by their ``traditional stance ... and would support the Arab rights, including support for a just and comprehensive settlement.''

Bureau Report