Palestinian Minister: Isreli occupation Hampers development of Palestine

Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan and his Palestinian counterpart Jawad Hirzallah made the opening remarks at a conference in Istanbul. Hirzallah said that Turkish people have always stood by Palestine and offered political and economic support and noted that the Israeli occupation seriously hampered the economic development and foreign trade in Palestine. Hirzallah added that Israel should be urged to lift the restrictions. In his speech, Caglayan contrasted the tunnels used to transfer goods in Gaza with the single window customs system and said one should not witness such things in the 21st century.