GAZA CITY, May 15: Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniya said on Tuesday that time should be given to a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but urged resistance against Israel to continue.

The comments were made in a statement issued on the 59th anniversary of the “catastrophe” of the Jewish state's creation in 1948, which coincides with Israel marking 40 years since the capture of Arab east Jerusalem in 1967.

“We will continue to confront the occupation with the blade and sword... We will give politics time but we will not abandon arms as long as the occupier has not left our territory,” Haniya said.

“We are one people who will not bow before the siege, the spectre of hunger and of fear,” he added referring to a Western boycott of his government over its lack of explicit recognition for Israel and renunciation of violence.

“Israel's decisions to hold onto millions of dollars (owed in tax duties) the strengthening of the Jewish presence in Jerusalem and settlement growth, demonstrate the occupation does not want calm,” the prime minister said.

The Israeli government on Sunday approved one and a half billion dollars to develop Israeli areas of Jerusalem as the Jewish state celebrates 40 years since the capture of Arab east Jerusalem.—AFP