Sunday, September 4 2005 15:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Apparently dealing a blow to Pakistan's effort to move close to Israel, the Palestinian Authority (PA) has rejected Islamabad's claim that it gave the 'green light' to the recent first-ever meeting between Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri and his counterpart from the Jewish state.

"There is a difference between notifying us and the claim that we gave the meeting the green light," Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister and Information Minister Nabil Shaath said in a statement.

The meeting between Kasuri and his Israeli counterpart Silvan Shalom took place in Istanbul, Turkey, on September 1.

"Israel has done nothing that a country such as Pakistan should reward it with a prize," Pakistan daily 'Dawn' quoted him as saying in the statement.

His comments run contrary to the remarks by top Pakistani leaders and officials in defence of Kasuri's meeting with Shalom that PA President Mahmud Abbas and Saudi King Abdullah welcomed the initiative.

Pakistan also said it made arrangements to send a delegation to Palestine to express support to the Middle East peace process.

Elaborating on the PA's stand, Shaath said, "We cannot dictate Pakistan's foreign policy, but we expect our friends and allies to demand that Israel restores our rights in return."

He recalled that the 2002 Beirut Arab summit had adopted a peace initiative, which supported the PA's position that Israel should withdraw from all Arab, lands it occupied in 1967 before it could be recognized.