Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Wednesday welcomed national reconciliation between “Fatah” and “Hamas” and reiterated his commitment to support efforts to establish a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Bouteflika said in a congratulatory message to President Abbas on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the declaration of independence: “I can not fail to assure you that Algeria stands by the Palestinian people and their steadfast support for the Arab and international efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”

“It is a good occasion for me to share with the Palestinian people their pride in this precious anniversary and to relive their sacrifices in order to regain all their legitimate rights, foremost of which is their right to establish their independent state on their land,” the president added.

He also praised Palestinian national reconciliation, which will inevitably strengthen the state’s position on the challenges facing the Palestinian cause.