French official tells paper Arab countries will condemn Hamas, trying to get Palestinian statehood recognized

PARIS -Arab countries will for the first time condemn Hamas and call for its disarmament early next week at aUnited Nations ministerial event in New York, a move meant to lure more European countries to recognize Palestinian statehood, France’s foreign minister said on Saturday.

In an exclusive interview with French weekly Le Journal du Dimanche, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot said the move was part of a long-planned initiative between France and Saudi Arabia.

“For…