Arab countries attending a regional conference in Damascus highlighted on Monday the importance of boycotting Israel, the state-run SANA News Agency reported.  

Officials from 19 Arab countries as well as representatives from the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Conference attended the 73rd conference of the Damascus-based Office of the Arab Boycott of Israel (OABI).

General commissioner for the boycott, Ahmad al-Oudat, said in an opening speech that the boycott constitutes a key factor in supporting the Palestinian people's struggle against an Israeli occupation and systematic acts of terrorism by the Israeli authorities.

The boycott will remain an influential tool and strong support to the Palestinians till the establishment of an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital and the restoration of all the occupied Arab territories, including Syria's Golan Heights and southern Lebanon, he said.

The OABI was set up in 1951 by Arab nations to prevent companies that did business with Israel from operating in the Arab world. 

In its heyday, the Arab boycott office blacklisted more than 8,500 companies, including Coca-Cola and Ford Motor Co.

(Xinhua News Agency December 7, 2004)