PA Ambassador to Saudi Arabia: Iran is failing to help the Palestinian cause
PA ambassador Bassem al-Agah criticized Iran for not allocating money for Palestinian schools or medical services.
By JPOST.COM STAFFUpdated: JANUARY 7, 2016 12:14A file photo from 2012 of a banner that reads "Thanks and gratitude to Iran" in Gaza City(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Palestinian Authority's ambassador to Saudi Arabia lobbed heavy criticism at Iran on Thursday, saying that the country has failed to contribute to the Palestinian cause.PA ambassador Bassem al-Agah, in an interview with London-based Arabic daily Asharq al-Aswat, criticized Iran for not allocating money to Palestinians."They have not built any schools for Palestinian children nor have they provided medical services for injured Palestinians," al-Agah said.He continued, saying that the Iranians have issued fatwas against the "legitimate Palestinian government" and have not contributed to the Palestinian cause whatsoever aside from "political executions." Al-Agah's comments came as several Sunni-majority countries in the region have been expressing their displeasure with Iran for cutting ties with Saudi Arabia over last week's execution by the Kingdom of a Shi'ite cleric.On Wednesday, Jordan summoned Iran's ambassador in Amman to condemn an attack on the embassy of Saudi Arabia in Tehran and "Iranian interference" in Arab affairs.The same day, Qatar recalled its ambassador to Iran, after allies Saudi Arabia and Bahrain cut their ties with Tehran following attacks on Saudi missions by Iranian protesters.Tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia have spiraled since the execution of the Shi'ite cleric in Saudi Arabia. Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran early on Sunday and Shi'ite Iran's top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, predicted "divine vengeance" for the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, an outspoken opponent of the ruling Al Saudi family.Reuters contributed to this report.