Israel blocks Arab ministers from attending Ramallah meeting on Palestinian statehood
JERUSALEM, May 31 — Israel will not allow a planned meeting in the Palestinian administrative capital of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, to go ahead, an Israeli official said today, after media reported that Arab ministers planning to attend had been stopped from coming.
The delegation included ministers from Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, Palestinian Authority officials said. The ministers would require Israeli consent to travel to the West Bank from Jordan.
An Israeli official said the ministers intended to take part in 'a provocative meeting' to discuss promoting the establishment of a Palestinian state.
'Such a state would undoubtedly become a terrorist state in the heart of the land of Israel,' the official said. 'Israel will not cooperate with such moves aimed at harming it and its security.'
A Palestinian Authority official said that the issue of whether the meeting in Ramallah would be able to go ahead was under discussion.
The move comes ahead of an international conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, due to be held in New York on June 17-20 to discuss the issue of Palestinian statehood.
Israel has come under increasing pressure from the United Nations and European countries which favour a two-state solution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict, under which an independent Palestinian state would exist alongside Israel.
French President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday that recognising a Palestinian state was not only a 'moral duty but a political necessity'. — Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
22 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Hamas signals willingness for new indirect Gaza ceasefire talks with Israel
ISTANBUL, June 2 — Hamas said on Sunday evening that it is ready to immediately enter a new round of indirect negotiations with Israel to resolve outstanding points of contention, with the aim of ending the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and reaching a permanent ceasefire, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. The announcement followed the group's Saturday delivery of its response to a Gaza ceasefire proposal presented by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Both the envoy and the Israeli government later rejected the response outright. 'We welcome the continued Qatari and Egyptian efforts to reach an end to the war waged by the Zionist occupation against our people in the Gaza Strip,' Hamas said in a statement. The group affirmed its willingness 'to immediately begin indirect negotiations to reach an agreement on disputed points, in a way that ensures relief for our people, ends the humanitarian catastrophe, and leads to a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of (Israeli) occupation forces.' Earlier Sunday, Egypt and Qatar said they hoped for a swift agreement on a 60-day temporary truce between Israel and Hamas that would pave the way towards a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, according to a joint statement. 'Qatar and Egypt, in coordination with the United States, affirm their intention to intensify efforts to overcome the obstacles facing the negotiations,' the statement said. They also urged all parties 'to exercise responsibility and support the efforts of mediators aimed at resolving the crisis in the Gaza Strip through restoring stability and calm to the region.' On Saturday night, Witkoff criticised Hamas' latest response to his ceasefire proposal as 'totally unacceptable.' He highlighted: 'That is the only way we can close a 60-day ceasefire deal in the coming days in which half of the living hostages and half of those who are deceased will come home to their families and in which we can have at the proximity talks substantive negotiations in good faith to try to reach a permanent ceasefire.' That same day, Hamas confirmed it had submitted its official reply to the mediators regarding Witkoff's proposal. While it did not disclose the content, the group said its position was based on three goals: a permanent ceasefire, full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and unrestricted humanitarian access to the enclave. Hamas has repeatedly stated it is prepared to release all Israeli captives in one exchange deal — on the condition that the war ends, Israeli forces fully withdraw from Gaza, and Palestinian prisoners are freed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to push for partial agreements and has introduced new conditions, including the disarmament of Palestinian resistance factions. Critics in the Israeli opposition accuse him of prolonging the war and pushing for the reoccupation of Gaza to serve his political interests and maintain power. Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, Israel has pursued a devastating offensive in Gaza since October 2023, killing over 54,400 Palestinians, most of them women and children. Aid agencies have warned about the risk of famine among the enclave's population. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war crimes against civilians in the enclave. — Bernama-Anadolu
Free Malaysia Today
26 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
US envoy says France can ‘carve' Palestinian state out of Riviera
US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee (left) speaks with homeland security secretary Kristi Noem upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport. (AP pic) JERUSALEM : The US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has lashed out at France's advocacy for recognition of a Palestinian state, saying that if it supported such an outcome it could 'carve out a piece of the French Riviera' and create one. France is co-chairing with Saudi Arabia this month an international conference at the United Nations aimed at resurrecting the idea of a two-state solution, which the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes. Paris has also said it could recognise a Palestinian state itself this year. In an interview with Fox News published on Saturday, Huckabee called the initiative at the UN 'incredibly inappropriate when Israel is in the midst of a war'. 'Oct 7 changed a lot of things,' he said, referring to the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that sparked the war in Gaza. 'If France is really so determined to see a Palestinian state, I've got a suggestion for them – carve out a piece of the French Riviera and create a Palestinian state. They are welcome to do that, but they are not welcome to impose that kind of pressure on a sovereign nation.' Israel on Friday accused French President Emmanuel Macron of undertaking a 'crusade against the Jewish state' after he called for European countries to harden their stance on Israel if the humanitarian situation in Gaza did not improve. The day before, Israel announced the creation of 22 new settlements in the West Bank, with defence minister Israel Katz later vowing to build a 'Jewish Israeli state' in the occupied territory. The settlements are regularly condemned by the United Nations as illegal under international law, and are seen as a major obstacle to the two-state solution. But Huckabee, a staunch advocate for Israel, has said there is 'no such thing as an occupation' when it comes to the Palestinian territories.
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
World's largest cooling system powers up for Haj pilgrims at Mecca's Grand Mosque
MECCA, June 2 — The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque has activated the world's largest cooling system, with a total capacity of 155,000 refrigeration tonnes. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the cooling system aims to provide a comfortable and spiritually uplifting environment for millions of pilgrims arriving from around the world as part of its intensive preparations for the 1446 AH Haj season. The Grand Mosque is served by two main cooling stations: the Shamiya station, with a capacity of 120,000 tonnes, and the Ajyad station, with 35,000 tonnes, both covering the extensive expansions and vast areas within the Grand Mosque. These systems maintain moderate temperatures ranging from 22 to 24 degrees Celsius, utilising advanced air purification technologies that remove 95 per cent of impurities to ensure ideal air quality for pilgrims. The authority also conducts proactive and continuous maintenance operations, including spare parts replacement, worksite safety assurance, and efficient resource management to meet the high operational demands during the Haj season and support the sustainability of services within the Grand Mosque. The authority emphasises that these efforts are part of a comprehensive vision aimed at elevating the pilgrim experience and providing the highest levels of comfort and tranquillity during ritual performance, especially given the potentially harsh weather conditions at certain times of the season. — Bernama-SPA
