Spiritual Leader of Shias, Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah has issued a religious decree - a fatwa - forbidding the normalization of relations with Israel, Fadlallah's office released.

Under the fatwa, the normalization of relations with Israel is contrary to the Islamic law - Sharia. Fadlallah said that the decision applies to all Muslims. 73-year-old Spiritual Leader of Shias living in Lebanon said that the relations with Israel should remain on the same level until all Palestinian and Arab territories are returned.

The Shia leader's fatwa was issued after the U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell's visit to Israel. The U.S. official has visited the region to unlock the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and resolve the problem of the Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

In addition, a while ago, the leaders of several Arab countries agreed to normalize the relations with Israel in the event of termination of the construction of the Jewish settlements. Among Arab countries, only Egypt and Jordan signed an armistice with Israel.