Latest news with #AbrahamAccord
Business Recorder
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Will Iran sign the Abraham Accord?
Abraham Accord is being discussed for peace in the Middle East (ME). Descendants of Hazrat Ibrahim (Abraham) A.S. are being brought on the same page by the powers to be. Recognition of Israel is being sought before the long agreed two-state agreement (Israel, Palestine) is implemented, the ME is being cleansed to ensure long-term survival of the Jewish state. Most Arab neighbours of Israel have either been destroyed or tamed to accept the new reality. In principle, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is willing to recognize Israel if the two-state agreement is implemented in letter and spirit. Our battered Palestinian brothers have already agreed to the Vienna understanding. The dissenting states (Iraq, Syria) have been pummelled into submission only Iran remains defiant. Once the accord has been signed by most Muslim countries, Iran will have to make the tough choice. Will it sign on it, is the big question. There is a famous quotation, 'The fault lies in our stars'. Unfortunately, in the Ummah the fault lies with our leaders. At the start of the new millennium while visiting the USA, someone asked me about the man of the 20th century. It was an interesting thought for those who will live through two centuries (20th and 21st). On reviewing the major events of the ending century, I picked up two finalists from a list of twenty outstanding personalities. Impact was chosen as the criteria. Finally, I decided in favour of the Chinese revolutionary leader Chairman Mao Tse Tung who laid the foundations of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the unstoppable future superpower of the world. I placed Imam Ruhollah Khomeini as the runner-up. Khomeini liberated his country from the clutches of the Western-imposed royalty. It was a period of change, conflicts and revolutions. The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 was led by Vladimir Lenin. The USSR (The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) emerged on the world map. It dominated the world as Superpower till its demise in the year 1991. The Chinese Revolution has kept its course to dominate the globe while the Iranian Revolution continues to struggle but refuses to submit against all odds and pressures. PRC is preparing to dominate a major part of this millennium while Imam Khomeini's concept of Islamic Republics has been stalled for the time being, but it is bound to catch up sooner or later with major changes in leadership in the Ummah with the fall of Shahs and Shahinshah's who have impeded the progress of their own nations. I see a major resurgence in the Muslim World by the middle of this century. The purpose of the Abraham Accord is to secure the state of Israel on one hand and ensure status-quo in the ME on the other to keep the Ummah in the dark ages under repressive regimes which remain subservient to the Western powers. A Palestinian State will be a force to be reckoned with in the ME. Even under occupation the Palestine National Authority is under elected leadership. Mahmoud Abbas is the President who was preceded by Yasser Arafat, the un-disputed leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin agreed for the creation of two states to live side by side. Rabin was assassinated in 1995 while Arafat lost his life in 2004 under mysterious circumstances. PLO started as a liberating force but was later convinced to come to the negotiating table for a peaceful settlement. That peace still eludes them. While Israel continues to expand in defiance of international laws the Palestinians continue to languish in their own land. Khomeini believed in a black and white world. He was against any compromise on the basics. When Iraq was pumped to attack Iran in 1980 soon after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the Iranians fought back with valour. The war continued for eight years. Iraq badly failed in its objective, the borders remained unchanged. Iraq failed to take control of Shatt al-Arab but the spread of the revolution in the ME was contained. After the death of the leader in 1989, Iran started to look inwards for growth and development. However, anti-US and Israel chants are heard in the mosques after prayers. Airports have inscriptions saying, 'Israel has no right to exist '. Most Iranians believe it as a matter of faith that the Jewish State was condemned for all times to come as the Jews cannot be trusted. Iran considers itself to be an Islamic Republic where elections are regularly held for the President and the parliament (Majlis). It has withstood all pressures from the West and has pursued its own independent foreign policy. Spread of Islam remains its mission without the division of sects and prejudices. The Abraham Accord should only be considered once the two-state principle has been implemented in letter and spirit with the creation of independent states existing side by side. Once our Palestinian brothers are fully settled the accord will make sense but not before that. Iran may also consider signing the accord at that juncture but certainly it will not sign before that. Resistance to the accord will grow with clear divisions in the Ummah, which should be avoided. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Al Manar
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Manar
US Envoy to Syria Says Syria Authorities ‘Carrying Out Quiet Talks with Israel'
The US special envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, has said that the Syrian government has already commenced quiet talks with Israel on a range of issues. In an interview, Barrack stressed that the Syrian government is not interested in war with 'Israel' and called for Syrian authorities to be given a chance to present their new approach The comments come after Israeli media revealed this week that senior Syrian officials reportedly said that 'direct daily dialogue has been taking place with Israel in recent days'. A Syrian official familiar with the details of the talks confirmed that Damascus is not ruling out the possibility of reaching a peace deal with 'Israel', before the end of US President Donald Trump's term. The latest developments come after Syria's President Ahmed Al-Sharaa recently said that indirect talks have been taking place with Israel through international mediators. In a meeting with dignitaries and officials from the Quneitra governorate and the occupied Golan Heights, Al-Sharaa said that Damascus was also working to stop continued Israeli attacks in southern Syria. Normalisation ? Earlier this week, 'Israel's national security' chief, Tzachi Hanegbi, further said that there has been direct contact between 'Israel' and the Syrian government, noting that the two sides have been discussing the possibility of normalizing relations. In a speech made during the Israeli Knesset's foreign affairs and defense committee session, Hanegbi said he is personally overseeing security and political coordination with Damascus, suggesting that talks have moved beyond the point of indirect negotiations. The head of the 'Israeli national security' council claimed that both Syria and now Lebanon could potentially normalize relations with 'Israel', following the Abraham Accords signed with other Arab countries in the region. The prospect of normalizing times also coincides with comments from Israel's ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, who said in a podcast interview this week: 'I'm very upbeat about the potential for an Abraham Accord with Syria and Lebanon, and that may actually precede Saudi Arabia. It'll happen with a wink from Saudi Arabia.' He claims that the two countries are still on that path but are 'facing difficulties due to Israel's ongoing war on Gaza'.
National Post
14-07-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Opinion: Why the Muslim world failed to come to Iran's defence
Article content Even people from Lebanon and Syria, the countries where Iran ruled through its terror proxies for years, did not protest when Israel and the U.S. struck Iran. In fact, many Lebanese people did not even try to hide their jubilation when Hezbollah was knocked down from its perch. Article content One thing that struck us is that, as American and Israeli bombs were raining down on Iran's nuclear and military facilities, the streets of nearby Dubai remained unusually calm — something that likely never would have happened even 20 years ago. The United Arab Emirates has always lived under the threat of Iranian aggression, but now things seem different. Article content Something has fundamentally changed in the Gulf security calculus. The calm on U.A.E. streets mean that rulers and businesses don't think Iran poses a significant threat anymore. The U.A.E.'s warm relations with Israel and the U.S. following the signing of the Abraham Accord adds an extra layer of security and comfort. Perhaps this explains why there was no panic among the ruling elite when war broke out in a neighbouring country, as there was during the first and second Gulf wars. Article content Article content
Ya Libnan
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Syrian, Israeli officials to meet in Baku, Azerbaijan
This handout picture released by the Syrian Presidency shows Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev (R) receiving Syria's interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Baku, Azerbaijan, July 12. — AFP A Syrian and an Israeli official are expected to meet in Baku later on Saturday on the sidelines of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Azerbaijan, a diplomatic source in Damascus with knowledge of the issue said. 'There will be a meeting between a Syrian official and an Israeli official on the sidelines of the visit being conducted by Sharaa in Baku,' said the source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. Israel is a major arms supplier to Azerbaijan and has a significant diplomatic presence in the Caucasus nation, which neighbours its arch foe Iran. The diplomatic source stressed that Sharaa himself would not attend the Baku meeting, which would focus on 'the recent Israeli military presence in Syria'. After the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, Israel carried out hundreds of air strikes in Syria to prevent key military assets from falling into the hands of the interim administration headed by Sharaa. It also sent troops into the UN-patrolled buffer zone that used to separate the opposing forces on the strategic Golan Heights, from which it has conducted forays deeper into southern Syria. Sharaa has said repeatedly that Syria does not seek conflict with its neighbors and has instead asked the international community to put pressure on Israel to halt its attacks. Sharaa's government recently confirmed that it had held indirect contacts with Israel seeking a return to the 1974 disengagement agreement, which created the buffer zone. Israel views Sharaa's government in the context of his past links with Al-Qaeda and ISIS . But late last month, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel was interested in striking a peace and normalisation agreement with Syria. A Syrian government source quoted by state media responded that such talk was 'premature'. But during a visit to Lebanon this week, US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said: 'The dialogue has started between Syria and Israel.' After meeting Sharaa in Riyadh in May, US President Donald Trump told reporters he had expressed hope that Syria would join other Arab states which normalized their relations with Israel under the Abraham Accord. '[Sharaa] said yes. But they have a lot of work to do,' Trump said. The Syrian president arrived in Baku earlier today for talks with his counterpart, Ilham Aliyev. Azerbaijan announced it would begin exporting gas to Syria via Turkiye, according to a statement from the Azerbaijani presidency. Syria's authorities are seeking to rebuild the country's infrastructure and economy after almost 14 years of civil war. The conflict badly damaged Syria's power infrastructure, leading to cuts that can last for more than 20 hours a day. 'The importance of cooperation between our countries, particularly in the energy sector, was highlighted at the meeting, and it was reported that Syria is currently facing a serious energy problem,' the presidency said in a statement. 'A project to export Azerbaijani gas to Syria via Turkey will be implemented in the near future, which will contribute to ensuring the energy security of this country,' the statement added. In May, Syrian Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir said Damascus and Ankara had reached a deal for Turkey to supply natural gas to the war-torn country via a pipeline in the north. Gas-rich Azerbaijan is a historic ally of Turkey which maintains close ties with the Syrian transitional government. Ilham Aliyev has regularly aligned himself with Turkey's positions on international issues, including Syria. News Agencies
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump ‘all for' Iran peace talks, but ‘ready, willing and able' to strike again
President Trump said he was 'all for' lasting peace with Iran but 'ready, willing and able' to strike if Tehran poses additional threats to the U.S., speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday. Trump offered wide-ranging remarks to the press in what was initially billed as a private dinner with the Israeli leader. He said that talks with Iran are expected within the next week and warned that he is prepared for more military action if necessary. 'I will tell you that in my view, I hope it's over. I think Iran wants to meet. I think they want to make peace and I'm all for it. Now, if that's not the case, we are ready, willing, and able,' Trump said, responding to a question on whether he believes the Israel-Iran war is over. 'But I don't think we're going to have to be.' Trump said Netanyahu was better positioned to answer the question. The prime minister, sitting across the table, referred to Iran's nuclear program and its ballistic missile program as two 'tumors' that the combined operations of Israel and the U.S. had removed. But like a cancer, he said, the situation would require constant monitoring. 'We had great achievements; it's part of the effort to make sure we don't have to repeat this, we have to monitor this,' Netanyahu said. 'No question this is a historic victory and I think as was said here today, we changed the face of the Middle East, we have an opportunity to create here a historic expansion of the Abraham Accords … that deserves a Nobel Prize for the president. I hope the opportunities are much bigger; I'd like to believe Iran will not test our fortitude. It would be a mistake.' Netanyahu is also expected to visit Congress on Tuesday, meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.). Monday was the first time Trump and Netanyahu met in person since the president ordered U.S. strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, a decision made in coordination with Israel's bombing of key Iranian nuclear sites, nuclear scientists and military personnel. U.S. officials in recent days have also sounded optimistic signals on securing a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, seen as key to unlocking much of the rest of Trump's goals in the Middle East, which range from keeping Iran weak to warming ties with Israel's Arab and Gulf allies. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters earlier in the day Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, would travel to Qatar this week to participate in ceasefire talks. 'I think things are going very well,' Trump said of the talks. Trump helped complete a previous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in January that had been largely negotiated by the Biden administration. The ceasefire lasted for two months before falling apart over the second phase of the deal, which would have seen an end of the war. The latest proposal offered by the Trump administration includes a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, with Hamas releasing 10 living hostages and 18 bodies over the course of the two months, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The talks are also reported to be considering the withdrawal of Israeli troops from certain parts of Gaza. Also on the table is a scale-up of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, with the United Nations and Palestine Red Crescent Society taking over distribution from the controversial, American-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF). While the GHF has denied reports that the organization uses live ammunition and stun grenades to exercise crowd-control measures, Israeli officials have acknowledged that not enough food is reaching Palestinians. The Gaza Health Ministry has said hundreds of people have been killed and thousands were injured when trying to receive aid. An NPR journalist detailed the dire situation and dangerous conditions in trying to get food aid, battling looters, live ammunition fired by Israeli soldiers, people being crushed in the chaos and stepping over bodies to continue the journey for food. A major sticking point in the ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas is what happens beyond the 60-day ceasefire. The proposal reportedly includes holding discussions for ending the war. But Israel has called for maintaining freedom of movement to carry out military operations, along with international governance of the strip and Hamas's exile. Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said Israel's goal is for Hamas to abdicate power and its leadership to leave Gaza, similar to the situation in 1982 where Israel forced the exit of then-Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and the Palestine Liberation Organization from Lebanon to Tunisia. 'That's something which is being discussed, to take the leadership of Hamas out of Gaza. … We don't want Hamas to stay in power,' Danon told reporters during a visit to Washington, D.C., last week. Brett Samuels contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
