Qatar takes part in economic, social council meet in Iraq
Doha
Dr Saud bin Abdullah Al Attiyah, deputy undersecretary for economic affairs at the Ministry of Finance, headed the delegation of Qatar participating in the meeting of the Economic and Social Council at the ministerial level, in preparation for the Arab Development Summit. The meeting was held in Baghdad, Iraq.
The agenda of this session includes a number of important items, such as the review of the Secretary-General's report on joint Arab economic and social development efforts, support for the development needs plan and infrastructure projects in Yemen, a project to support and shelter families displaced by war within the Palestinian territories, developments regarding the Greater Arab Free Trade Area and the Arab Customs Union, in addition to Arab preparations for the Second World Summit for Social Development, which is scheduled to be hosted in Doha in November 2025.
Other economic and social issues are also included on the agenda. It is worth noting that the meeting serves as a preparatory step for the Development Summit scheduled to be held on 17 May 2025 in Iraq.
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Qatar Tribune
3 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Foreign ministers of 31 Arab, Islamic countries, Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Cooperation Council for Arab States secretaries-general condemn Israeli PM's 'Greater Israel' statements
DOHA: The Foreign Ministers of the State of Qatar, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the Republic of Chad, the United Republic of the Comoros, the Republic of Djibouti, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Gambia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Republic of Iraq, the State of Kuwait, the Lebanese Republic, the State of Libya, the Republic of Maldives, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the Kingdom of Morocco, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Sultanate of Oman, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the State of Palestine, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Senegal, the Republic of Sierra Leone, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Republic of Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Republic of Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Yemen, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf have condemned in the strongest terms the statements made by Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel (the occupying power), as reported by the Israeli media, regarding the so-called 'Greater Israel', which represent a gross disregard for It is a blatant and dangerous violation of the rules of international law and the foundations of stable international relations, and constitutes a direct threat to Arab national security, the sovereignty of states, and regional and international security and peace. They emphasized that while Arab and Islamic countries affirm their respect for international legitimacy and the United Nations Charter, particularly Article 2, paragraph 4, which prohibits the use or threat of force, Arab and Islamic countries will adopt all policies and measures that frame and consolidate peace, thereby realizing the interests of all countries and peoples in terms of security, stability, and development, far removed from the illusion of control and the imposition of force. They also condemned in the strongest terms the approval by extremist Israeli Minister Bezalel Smotrich of the settlement plan in the E1 area and his extremist racist statements rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state. They considered this a flagrant violation of international law and a blatant assault on the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent, sovereign state on the June 4, 1967, lines, with occupied Jerusalem as its capital. They emphasized that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory. They affirmed their absolute rejection and condemnation of this settlement plan and all illegal Israeli measures, which constitute a flagrant violation of international law and Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2334, which condemns all Israeli settlement activities aimed at altering the demographic composition, character, and legal status of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Palestine. They also reaffirmed the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which emphasized the illegality of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory and the need to end it immediately, eliminate its effects, and provide redress for its damages. They warned of the danger of Israeli intentions and policies aimed at annexing Palestinian territories, and the continued extremist Israeli government's expansionist settlement approach in the occupied West Bank. This includes attempts to undermine Islamic and Christian holy sites, foremost among them the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, settler terrorism, daily incursions into Palestinian cities, villages, and camps, the systematic destruction of Palestinian refugee camps, and the displacement of Palestinians from their homes. All of this contributes directly to fueling cycles of violence and conflict and undermines the chances of achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the region. They also warned against relying on ideological and racist illusions, which threaten to intensify the conflict, making its course difficult to control or predict, and threatening regional and international security and stability alike. In a related context, the foreign ministers of Arab and Islamic countries, the League of Arab States, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation reiterated their rejection and condemnation of the crimes of Israeli aggression, genocide, and ethnic cleansing. They also affirmed the need for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, while ensuring unconditional access to humanitarian aid to halt the systematic starvation policy used by Israel as a weapon of genocide. This requires an immediate end to the deadly Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, the opening of Israeli crossings with the Gaza Strip, and holding Israel, the occupying power, fully responsible for the consequences of its crimes in the Gaza Strip, including the collapse of the health and relief systems, as an occupying power. They also reaffirmed their complete and absolute rejection of the displacement of the Palestinian people in any form and under any pretext, and called on the international community to pressure Israel to halt its aggression and fully withdraw from the Gaza Strip, in preparation for the creation of appropriate conditions for the implementation of the Arab-Islamic plan for early recovery and reconstruction efforts in the Strip. They emphasizedthat the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory, and the necessity for the State of Palestine to assume governance responsibilities in the Gaza Strip as well as in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with Arab and international support, within the framework of the political program of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, and the policy of one system, one law, and one legitimate weapon. In this context, they called on the international community, especially the permanent members of the Security Council, particularly the United States of America, to assume their legal and moral responsibilities and take immediate action to compel Israel to halt its ongoing aggression against the Gaza Strip and its dangerous escalation in the occupied West Bank, and to stop the delusional, inflammatory statements issued by its officials. They also called on Israel to provide protection to the Palestinian people and enable them to realize their legitimate rights, foremost among which is their right to establish an independent, sovereign state on their national soil, and to hold accountable those who commit crimes and violations against the Palestinian people.
Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Al Jazeera
How the world is reacting to Israel's E1 settlement plan in the West Bank
Israel's announcement that it will illegally build thousands of homes in a highly controversial development in the occupied West Bank – in a move Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich boasted 'buries the idea of a Palestinian state' – has drawn widespread international condemnation. Smotrich announced Thursday that he was pushing ahead with long-frozen plans for the E1 area settlement project that would connect occupied East Jerusalem with the existing illegal Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, located several kilometres to the east. The planned settlement, which was shelved for years amid opposition from the United States and European allies, would comprise more than 3,400 homes for Israeli settlers on Palestinian-owned land that experts say is vital for any future territorially contiguous Palestinian state in the West Bank. Smotrich said the development was being revived as a response to plans by other countries to recognise a Palestinian state. But the response from the rest of the world has been scathing, with governments describing the move as a blatant violation of international law that would fuel regional instability and leave the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict in tatters. Here's an overview of the reactions so far. Palestine Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said the E1 development, in combination with the war in Gaza and escalating settler violence, would only lead to further escalation, tension and instability. He said he held the US responsible for halting Israel's expansionist actions, and noted that the settlement announcement came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had spoken of his vision for a 'Greater Israel'. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, called for international intervention to halt the settlement plans. It considered the E1 settlement 'a continuation of the occupation's plans to undermine the opportunity to establish the Palestinian state on its homeland, weaken its geographical and demographic unity, entrench the division of the West Bank into isolated areas surrounded by a sea of settlements, and facilitate the completion of their annexation'. Qatar Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs slammed the move, saying it 'reaffirms Qatar's unequivocal rejection of the Israeli occupation's policies aimed at expanding settlements and forcibly displacing Palestinian people, measures intended to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state'. Statement | Qatar Condemns Israeli Finance Minister's Approval of Settlement Plans Separating East Jerusalem from the Occupied West Bank#MOFAQatar — Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) August 14, 2025 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry condemned the settlement plans 'in the strongest possible terms', saying they were a violation of international law and a serious threat to the possibility of a two-state solution. In a statement, it called on the international community to 'assume its legal and moral responsibilities, protect the Palestinian people, and fulfil their legitimate rights, including recognition of the Palestinian state'. Jordan Jordan's Foreign Ministry condemned the move in the 'strongest terms'. The ministry's spokesman Sufyan Qudah affirmed his country's 'absolute rejection and condemnation of this settlement plan and the illegal Israeli measures that constitute a blatant violation of international law and international Security Council resolutions'. Qudah warned against the continued expansionist policy of the Israeli government in the occupied West Bank, which the ministry said 'encourages the perpetuation of cycles of violence and conflict in the region'. Turkiye The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the settlement plan 'disregards international law and United Nations resolutions' and 'targets the territorial integrity of the State of Palestine, the basis for a two-state solution, and hopes for lasting peace'. It reaffirmed Turkiye's support for an independent Palestinian state based on 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. United Kingdom British Foreign Minister David Lammy said the plan must be stopped. 'The UK strongly opposes the Israeli government's E1 settlement plans, which would divide a future Palestinian state in two and mark a flagrant breach of international law,' he said in an emailed statement to the Reuters news agency. The situation in Gaza is appalling and the Israeli government's actions are further jeopardising the two-state solution. @AnitaAnandMP, @jnbarrot and I discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire, release of all hostages, a flood of aid and a plan to deliver lasting peace. — David Lammy (@DavidLammy) August 14, 2025 Germany The German government, a strong supporter of Israel, urged Israel to 'stop settlement construction' and said it 'strongly rejects' the plan for the new development 'The settlement construction violates international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions,' a spokesperson for the Foreign Office in Berlin said. 'It complicates a negotiated two-state solution and an end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, as demanded by the International Court of Justice,' he added. Spain Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares called the expansion plan 'a new violation of international law'. 'It undermines the viability of the two-state solution, the only path to peace,' he said in a social media post. United Nations The United Nations urged Israel to reverse its decision. 'It would put an end to prospects of a two-state solution,' Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters. 'Settlements go against international law … [and] further entrench the occupation.' European Union The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also slammed the plan as a 'breach of international law' that would further undermine a two-state solution. 'If implemented, settlement construction in this area will permanently cut the geographical and territorial contiguity between occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank and sever the connection between the northern and southern West Bank,' said Kallas. 'The EU urges Israel to desist from taking this decision forward, noting its far-reaching implications and the need to consider action to protect the viability of the two-state solution.' She called on Israel to halt its settlement construction altogether, saying its settlement policy, combined with ongoing settler violence and military operations, were 'fuelling an already tense situation on the ground and further eroding any possibility for peace'. Organisation of Islamic Cooperation The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also denounced the plans, saying the Israeli occupation and settlement expansion were illegal under international law, United Nations resolutions, and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, and must end immediately. The intergovernmental organisation urged the international community to take responsibility, hold Israel accountable, and impose sanctions in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions. Israeli human rights group Israeli advocacy group Peace Now warned that the move was 'guaranteeing many more years of bloodshed'. 'The E1 plan is deadly for the future of Israel and for any chance of achieving a peaceful two-state solution,' it said in a statement. 'There is a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to the terrible war in Gaza – the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel – and it will ultimately come.' United States Israel's key ally, the United States, had no immediate words of criticism for the proposal. Asked about the settlement development, a spokesperson for the US State Department said Washington was focused on ending the war in Gaza and ensuring Hamas will never govern that territory again. 'A stable West Bank keeps Israel secure and is in line with this administration's goal to achieve peace in the region,' the spokesperson said, referring to the Israeli government for further information.
Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Al Jazeera
Palestinians condemn Israel's Ben-Gvir over Marwan Barghouti threat
Palestinian officials have condemned far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's taunting visit to the jail cell of long-imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti. Footage of the visit shared on social media on Thursday showed the minister making threatening remarks to the 66-year-old. In the footage, Ben-Gvir is seen telling Barghouti, who has been in prison since 2002, including years in solitary confinement: 'You won't win. Whoever messes with the nation of Israel, whoever murders our children and women – we will wipe them out.' 'You should know this, [this happened] throughout history,' Ben-Gvir added. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the incident 'in the strongest terms'. In a statement on Thursday, the ministry said Ben-Gvir's actions were 'an unprecedented provocation and organised state terrorism, falling within the framework of the crimes of genocide, displacement, and annexation faced by the prisoners and our people'. It added that the Palestinian Authority will take the threat seriously and will follow up with the International Committee of the Red Cross, relevant states, the international community, and its specialised organisations and councils. Barghouti's wife, Fadwa, said he and other Palestinian prisoners are subjected to inhumane treatment behind bars. 'They are still, Marwan, chasing you and pursuing you even in the solitary cell you've been living in for two years, and the struggle of the occupation and its figures with you continues. The shackles are on your hands, but I know your spirit and determination, and I know you will remain free, free, free,' she wrote in a statement on Facebook. 'I know that the only thing that can shake you is what you hear about your people's pain, and the only thing that crushes and wounds you is the failure to protect our sons and daughters. You are of the people; wherever you are among the people, you are one of them and part of them.' 'Shocking' Israel's Channel 12 broadcast a video clip of Ben-Gvir's visit at Ganot Prison in central Israel. The channel reported that the minister's visit was intended to oversee stricter conditions for Palestinian prisoners. The video marks the first time for years that footage of Barghouti has been published. His family and rights groups said he has been in solitary confinement since Israel launched its war on Gaza in October 2023 after Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel. Relatives of Barghouti who viewed the footage told Al Jazeera Arabic there was a 'shocking' appearance in his features, apparently from 'exhaustion and hunger', and expressed fear that he would die in custody. In October, the Palestinian Prisoner's Society accused Israeli prison staff of 'brutally assaulting' and injuring Barghouti while he was being held in solitary confinement. The claims that he has several times been beaten by prison staff have been denied by the Israel Prisons Service. The Fatah leader was sentenced to five life sentences plus 40 years for his alleged role in planning attacks that caused the deaths of five civilians during the second Intifada.
