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Israel continues its war on Gaza for the 20th day and Divided Arab leaders are engaged in a ‘war of summits.’
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani has said that the call for an ‘urgent Arab Summit’ Friday in Doha was still standing.
Sheikh Hamad emphasized that “discussing the situation in Gaza and the Israeli aggression in a consultative session is shameful,” signaling the Arab Economic summit due Sunday in Kuwait.
The Qatari Emir expressed hope that Egyptian – Turkish political activity would lead to a stop of Israel’s aggression adding, however, that nobody has the right to exploit the distress of the Palestinian people “to make on side triumph over the other”.
Sheikh Hamad stressed Arabs should have one position and come out with decisions that would guarantee the halt of Israel’s aggression. He reminded that “practical proposals” have been prepared for the Doha summit to stop the aggression including “the immediate stop of the attack, the immediate withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces, the opening of crossings, lifting the illegal blockade and guaranteeing the free movement of individuals and establishing a fund to rebuild Gaza in which Qatar would donate $250 million.”
The Emir added that proposals also include suspending the Arab “peace” process, stop normalization with Israel and work on bringing Israeli officials to international courts for their crimes against the Palestinian people.
The first response to the Doha summit came from Cairo that refused to participate. The second response came from Saudi Arabia that also refused to join in. Tunis and Kuwait also refused to take part. Morocco said it will attend the Doha summit, however it retracted its position “after Saudi – Egyptian pressure,” according to reports.
Arab states, of the 22 AL member states, that will participate in the Doha Summit are: Mauritania, Libya, Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, UAE, Qatar, Yemen, Djibouti, The Comoros, Somalia, Oman, Palestine and Iraq.
There are three “summits” to be held in three days: A GCC summit in Riyadh Thursday in response to Qatar’s call, he Doha Summit Friday, and Sunday’s Economic summit in Kuwait that was planned before the Israeli attack on Gaza began.
Even Arab League chief Amr Mussa seems not so eager for the Doha summit. He said that the two thirds quorum needed to hold the summit has not been secured yet, since 14 Arab states have so far have approved in writing to participate. However, Qatar says that so far, 16 states have express willingness to take part in the Doha summit.
“Egypt and Saudi Arabia are leading an aggressive campaign to thwart the Doha summit so that no ‘embarrassing’ decisions would be taken on the one hand, and to deprive Syrian President Bashar Assad of a solid platform to criticize President Husni Mubarak and King Abdullah as he did during the 2006 Israeli aggression on Lebanon,” an Egyptian source told Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar.
Egyptian FM Ahmed Abul Gheit said “there is no need for an emergency Arab summit.” He added that holding a summit in Doha would kill the Economic summit in Kuwait. “Arab leaders who would meet in Kuwait can discuss all matters without losing focus on economic issues.”
Saudi Arabia, for its part, said it does not see holding an emergency summit in Doha “appropriate”. “It is not rational that Arab leaders meet before Arab FMs meet.”
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Hamad stressed “we did not call for the summit to prepare armies. We are not dreamers, but we perceive the reality around us…Every time the quorum is reached to hold the summit, the number decreases again, Allah is sufficient for us and most excellent is the Protector. Here we are, still waiting for Gaza’s sake and the leaders should decide.”
Sheikh Hamad emphasized that “discussing the situation in Gaza and the Israeli aggression in a consultative session is shameful,” signaling the Arab Economic summit due Sunday in Kuwait.
The Qatari Emir expressed hope that Egyptian – Turkish political activity would lead to a stop of Israel’s aggression adding, however, that nobody has the right to exploit the distress of the Palestinian people “to make on side triumph over the other”.
Sheikh Hamad stressed Arabs should have one position and come out with decisions that would guarantee the halt of Israel’s aggression. He reminded that “practical proposals” have been prepared for the Doha summit to stop the aggression including “the immediate stop of the attack, the immediate withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces, the opening of crossings, lifting the illegal blockade and guaranteeing the free movement of individuals and establishing a fund to rebuild Gaza in which Qatar would donate $250 million.”
The Emir added that proposals also include suspending the Arab “peace” process, stop normalization with Israel and work on bringing Israeli officials to international courts for their crimes against the Palestinian people.
The first response to the Doha summit came from Cairo that refused to participate. The second response came from Saudi Arabia that also refused to join in. Tunis and Kuwait also refused to take part. Morocco said it will attend the Doha summit, however it retracted its position “after Saudi – Egyptian pressure,” according to reports.
Arab states, of the 22 AL member states, that will participate in the Doha Summit are: Mauritania, Libya, Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, UAE, Qatar, Yemen, Djibouti, The Comoros, Somalia, Oman, Palestine and Iraq.
There are three “summits” to be held in three days: A GCC summit in Riyadh Thursday in response to Qatar’s call, he Doha Summit Friday, and Sunday’s Economic summit in Kuwait that was planned before the Israeli attack on Gaza began.
Even Arab League chief Amr Mussa seems not so eager for the Doha summit. He said that the two thirds quorum needed to hold the summit has not been secured yet, since 14 Arab states have so far have approved in writing to participate. However, Qatar says that so far, 16 states have express willingness to take part in the Doha summit.
“Egypt and Saudi Arabia are leading an aggressive campaign to thwart the Doha summit so that no ‘embarrassing’ decisions would be taken on the one hand, and to deprive Syrian President Bashar Assad of a solid platform to criticize President Husni Mubarak and King Abdullah as he did during the 2006 Israeli aggression on Lebanon,” an Egyptian source told Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar.
Egyptian FM Ahmed Abul Gheit said “there is no need for an emergency Arab summit.” He added that holding a summit in Doha would kill the Economic summit in Kuwait. “Arab leaders who would meet in Kuwait can discuss all matters without losing focus on economic issues.”
Saudi Arabia, for its part, said it does not see holding an emergency summit in Doha “appropriate”. “It is not rational that Arab leaders meet before Arab FMs meet.”
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Hamad stressed “we did not call for the summit to prepare armies. We are not dreamers, but we perceive the reality around us…Every time the quorum is reached to hold the summit, the number decreases again, Allah is sufficient for us and most excellent is the Protector. Here we are, still waiting for Gaza’s sake and the leaders should decide.”
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