Arab Summit to focus on Gaza ceasefire, Palestine statehood

TDT | Manama     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Foreign ministers from Arab countries convened in Bahrain yesterday to prepare for the upcoming Arab Summit. The summit, which will be chaired by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, is set to take place tomorrow.

The meeting began with a speech by Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia.

Focus on Palestinian Issue and Unity

A key theme of the preparatory meeting was the ongoing conflict in Palestine. Ministers expressed deep concern over the recent violence in Gaza and called for a ceasefire.

Achieving a two-state solution with an independent Palestinian state on the basis of 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital was emphasized.

During the speech, the Saudi Foreign Minister said Saudi Arabia, highlighted the unprecedented attacks on Palestinian people by Israel and said international institutions demonstrated complete inability to maintain international peace and stability.

The Kingdom is committed to the necessity of an immediate and permanent ceasefire, ensuring sufficient and continuous entry of aid, and finding a reliable and irreversible path to a two-state solution, in a way that ensures that the Palestinian people obtain their inherent right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international legitimacy resolutions.

Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, chaired the preparatory meeting and warmly welcomed the delegations.

The Foreign Minister said the present Arab Summit is being held under extremely delicate and sensitive political and security circumstances, and amidst economic challenges, humanitarian tragedies, and regional and international conflicts that require the Arab nations to act in unity and solidarity in defending the region’s vital interests and in ensuring security.

Further, the Foreign Minister expressed hope that the Summit will represent a new stage in the process of joint Arab action built on historical fraternal ties, unity of purpose and destiny, the principles of solidarity, cooperation, mutual respect, and collective security.

The Foreign Minister called putting an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people through a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, providing humanitarian aid, and obtaining their legitimate rights to establish their independent state on the basis of the two-state solution, obtaining full membership in the United Nations, and rejecting military escalation in the region.

Speaking about the plan of action, the Foreign Minister said a number of initiatives have been proposed for approval by the leaders at the Arab Summit tomorrow.

This includes the call to hold an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations to resolve the Palestinian issue, the Foreign Minister said, adding that the Kingdom of Bahrain will be honoured to host the conference on its soil.

Bahrain’s Foreign Minister also stressed on strengthening fraternal solidarity among Arab nations and greater economic integration and joint projects among the nations.

Strengthening Arab Cooperation

The importance of Arab unity and solidarity was a recurring theme.

Ministers discussed ways to enhance cooperation in areas like security, trade, and sustainable development. Bahrain proposed hosting an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations to resolve the Palestinian issue.

Talking at the preparatory meeting of Foreign Ministers, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, said regional stability will be fragile as long as the Palestinian problem remains unsolved.

He called for immediately stopping the war and providing relief to the people of Gaza and to work without delay to achieve a twostate solution.

Other Regional Issues

Addressed The meeting also addressed other pressing issues in the Arab world, including the situations in Sudan, Libya, Yemen, and Syria.

Ministers discussed draft decisions related to strengthening joint Arab action in various fields and will submit them to leaders for approval at the summit.