British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Sunday he understood how terror attacks like the September 11 strikes in the United States were fuelled by anger over the plight of Palestinians.
"I know how outraged were the vast majority of Muslims throughout the world by the attacks on New York and Washington," Straw said in a message to the Iranian people obtained by AFP ahead of his visit to Tehran on Monday.
"Equally, I understand that one of the factors which helps breed terrorism is the anger which many people in this region feel at events over the years in Palestine," he said.
Straw said that in the wake of last week's cease-fire Israel and the Palestinians "now have to bring about a permanent settlement which is acceptable and fair to both sides ... they must not squander this opportunity for peace."
He warned: "The international community will find it very hard to understand if the violence and brutality resumes. The quest has to be part of the war against terrorism."
Iran strongly backs the Palestinians in their fight against Israeli occupation and says the "war against terrorism" declared by Washington must start by curbing the Jewish state, which it refuses to recognize.
Straw is expected in Jerusalem on Tuesday for talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials, amid a shaky cease-fire aimed at putting an end to a year of bloodshed which has left more than 800 people dead -- TEHRAN (AFP)
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