Latest news with #ArabGroup
Asharq Al-Awsat
a day ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Buildex Exhibition Reveals Strong Regional and International Interest in Syria's Reconstruction
Damascus has hosted the 22nd edition of the International Building Exhibition 'Buildex,' its first since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024. The event drew strong participation and visitor turnout, signaling renewed interest in Syria's reconstruction. More than 740 companies took part, including 490 local firms and 250 international companies from 39 countries. The exhibition was held at the new fairgrounds near Damascus International Airport. Notably, Turkish, Saudi, and Jordanian companies led the foreign participation, with Türkiye contributing over 150 firms, by far the largest foreign presence. Saudi Arabia and Jordan followed with 28 companies each, while China participated with 10. In contrast, companies from Iran and Russia, once dominant at the exhibition, were entirely absent. This shift reflects the waning influence of both countries following Syria's political transformation. Exhibitors represented sectors including construction materials, engineering, renewable energy, real estate development, water technology, and banking. Organizers described the exhibition as the largest economic event since sanctions on Syria were lifted by the US and European Union. In comments to Asharq Al-Awsat, Ilama Matar, International Marketing Manager at the Arab Group for Exhibitions, said this was the 'first edition after liberation.' She noted that during the war, only two limited editions were held in 2023 and 2024. She called the Saudi presence particularly important, with Al-Ojaimi Industrial Group - a major Saudi company in the electrical sector - serving as the main sponsor. B2B meetings were primarily held between Syrian, Saudi, and Jordanian companies, focusing on material supply chains and import logistics. Matar said some companies came only as visitors due to lack of available space. 'The energy here shows that Syria is open for business,' Matar said. 'This is the first major event after sanctions were lifted, and companies are moving quickly to enter the market.' Among the participating Saudi firms were United Transformers Electric Company, Plus Cable, Middle East Specialized Cables, and Sulfur Middle East Group. Executive Director Al-Baraa Abdel Jabbar Nuwair said their goal was to support Syria and contribute to rebuilding. 'The turnout and excitement exceeded expectations,' he said. Marketing Manager Ahmad Hammadeh of Middle East Specialized Cables said the company aims to explore export opportunities and showcase its infrastructure expertise. 'We've helped build major airports, and we believe there's potential for similar projects here.' The exhibition, which opened May 27, was held under the patronage of Syria's Ministries of Economy, Industry, and Public Works.
The National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
Arab Group calls on UN Security Council to bring end to 'catastrophic' Gaza war
The Arab Group called on the UN Security Council on Friday to take urgent action to halt Israel's 'catastrophic' war in Gaza. The group of Arab states also demanded an end to Israel's blockade of the enclave and the lifting of restrictions on humanitarian aid, as UN officials say the entire population faces famine. Israel has faced mounting international pressure over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the UN says only a 'teaspoon' of aid has been allowed in after a more than two-month blockade. Speaking on behalf of the Arab Group as chairman for the month of May, the UAE's UN envoy Mohamed Abushahab accused Israel of using starvation as 'a weapon of war' and rejected its proposed aid mechanism, calling it a breach of international law. The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which began operations this week, distributes aid through several 'secure' sites – manned by private security contractors – with the aim of keeping supplies out of the hands of Hamas. The mechanism cuts out traditional UN and other aid distributors, and critics have accused it of militarising humanitarian assistance. 'Palestinian lives are not less valuable than any other lives,' Mr Abushahab told reporters in New York. Negotiations to end nearly 20 months of war in Gaza have so far failed to achieve a breakthrough, with Israel resuming military operations in March following a short-lived truce. But a new proposal submitted by the US was approved by Israel on Thursday, and Hamas has said it is reviewing it. Palestine's deputy ambassador Majed Bamya said that international condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza was insufficient. 'There is international outrage, but our outrage is not good enough,' Mr Bamya told reporters. 'It's not good enough for the people of Gaza to know that the world condemns this action, condemns these crimes, stands against them. We need actions.' He accused Israel of attempting to forcibly erase the Palestinian cause and people, warning that such efforts would fail. Mr Bamya also pushed back against expectations that Palestinians should endure the crisis alone. 'The world cannot expect Palestinians to be superheroes, that they need to resist all of this on their own, that they need to figure out the way to survive, that they need to figure out how to stay in their land,' he said. 'Israel wants to convince them that if they want life, they can only find it away from them.' This week, Israel announced the creation of 22 new settlements in the West Bank. On Friday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed to build a 'Jewish Israeli state' in the Palestinian territory which Israel has occupied since 1967. Britain called the move a 'deliberate obstacle' to Palestinian statehood, and UN chief Antonio Guterres's spokesman said it pushed efforts towards a two-state solution 'in the wrong direction'. Mr Abushahab said the Arab Group looks forward to the upcoming conference in June on the two-state solution co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France as it is 'critical' for member states take concrete actions to advance sustainable peace. 'We salute those countries that recognised the state of Palestine and strongly encourage others to follow their example,' he said. 'Recognition is not just a symbolic gesture; it is a concrete step for the just and lasting peace.'
Arab News
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Arab Group at UN urges recognition of Palestine as ‘step toward lasting peace' ahead of conference on two-state solution
NEW YORK: Arab representatives at the UN on Friday praised countries that have recognized the state of Palestine, and urged other nations to follow suit. 'Recognition is not just symbolic, it is a step toward lasting peace,' said Mohamed Abushahab, the UAE's permanent representative to the UN and chair of the Arab Group for May, a forum for Arab nations to outline their positions on various issues. The comments came as Saudi Arabia and France prepare to co-chair a global conference later this month that will seek to hasten implementation of a two-state solution and end decades of conflict between Israel and Palestinians. The effort gained further support this month as the devastating toll of Israel's resumed assault on Gaza sparked international anger. Arab representatives say the upcoming conference, which will take place in New York, must go beyond diplomacy and deliver tangible steps toward peace. Speaking at a UN General Assembly meeting earlier this month in preparation for the forum, Saudi Arabia said that recognizing the state of Palestine is a 'strategic necessity' that is 'the cornerstone of a new regional order based on mutual recognition and coexistence.' 'Regional peace begins with recognizing the state of Palestine, not as a symbolic gesture, but as a strategic necessity,' the Kingdom said. The high-level conference is scheduled to begin on June 17 at the UN headquarters and aims to urgently adopt concrete measures toward the implementation of the two-state solution. Palestine is officially recognized by 147 of the UN's 193 member states and has observer status at the UN, but is not a full member. More than 53,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel unleashed its military operation in Gaza after a Hamas-led attack killed 1,200 people in October 2023. As the death toll and suffering in Gaza has increased, more nations have moved to recognize Palestine, including Ireland, Norway, and Spain last year. The Arab Group also issued an urgent call for immediate action from the UN Security Council to end the 'catastrophic war' and deepening humanitarian crisis in the enclave. Abushahab emphasized the group's collective condemnation of Israel's military campaign and blockade on Gaza. 'The Arab Group stands united in our determination to mobilize and put an end to the catastrophic war on Gaza,' he said. 'We demand the lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid and its distribution based on humanitarian principles. Starvation must not be used as a weapon of war.' Abushahab criticized Israel's proposed aid distribution mechanism, calling it a violation of international humanitarian law. He reiterated the Arab Group's demand for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire, alongside the release of all hostages and detainees. The UN representative urged the Security Council to adopt the draft resolution on Gaza advanced by the elected members of the council, and called on member states to take 'concrete actions' to advance the two-state solution. Majed Bamya, Palestine's deputy permanent representative to the UN, said: 'It is enough for anybody to understand the human tragedy unfolding before our eyes.' Referring to the relentless bombardments, mass displacement, starvation, and the killing of children, he added: 'Outrage is not enough. We need action.' Bamya stressed the need for full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735, which calls for a ceasefire, the release of hostages and prisoners, and the massive delivery of humanitarian aid. He praised Egypt and Qatar for their mediation efforts, and acknowledged US involvement in attempts to secure a ceasefire. 'The Palestinian people are being subjected to an attempt to liquidate their cause by force,' Bamya said, accusing Israel of using starvation and aid obstruction to displace the population and seize land. He firmly rejected any new aid distribution mechanism proposed by Israel, insisting on the UN plan that ensures equitable aid access throughout Gaza. 'We cannot expect people to survive this alone,' he said. 'Israel wants to convince them that if they want life, they can only find it away from their land. Our collective responsibility is to help our people find life and liberty in their homeland.' As the humanitarian toll mounts, the Arab Group's call to the Security Council reflects increasing pressure for global powers to take a firmer stance on the crisis. 'The time of half-measures has passed,' said Bamya. 'Palestinian lives are not less valuable than any other lives. The council must act accordingly.'
Dubai Eye
3 days ago
- Health
- Dubai Eye
UAE to UN: Arab Group says Israel's use of 'starvation as weapon of war is evident'
UAE Ambassador to the UN, Mohamed Abushahab has delivered the 22-member Arab Group statement on Israel's "deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of war" in Gaza at a UN Security Council briefing, calling it "starkly evident". Highlighting the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza during Wednesday's meeting, the statement cited chaos at an aid distribution centre on Tuesday as evidence of the urgent need for full, unhindered access to aid across the Strip. The statement from the Arab Group highlighted that 160,000 tonnes of food supplies remain stalled at border crossings since Israel lifted the 11-week aid blockade. Only 408 trucks have been permitted to enter Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing, Abushahad said, adding that only 115 trucks have successfully delivered aid into Gaza. "A drop in the ocean compared to Gaza's overwhelming humanitarian needs," the statement asserted, highlighting that over 2 million Palestinians continue to face severe shortages of food and medicine, with no aid reaching the northern Strip. The Group, which includes Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Sudan and Egypt, also rejected Israel's proposed aid mechanism, arguing it violates humanitarian principles. The Group urged Israel to implement the UN's five-phase humanitarian aid plan without delay. "Since Israel's breach of the ceasefire last March, the systematic destruction of hope and life for Palestinians in Gaza has persisted," Abushahab said. The statement referenced the case of Dr. Alaa Al-Najjar, a pediatrician at Nasser Hospital, who lost nine of her 10 children in an Israeli airstrike — a powerful example, the gGroup noted, of the human toll of the war. The statement also expressed alarm over Israel's continued military escalation in Gaza and the West Bank, the expansion of settlements, and changes to the legal and religious status quo at holy sites in Jerusalem. The Group reaffirmed its backing of the Arab plan for Gaza's recovery, led by Egypt in coordination with Palestine and the UN, and called for international support ahead of an upcoming reconstruction conference in Cairo. The UAE also called for the lifting of restrictions on UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, stressing its vital role in delivering aid and safeguarding refugee rights, including the right of return. The Group urged the Council to support the Algerian-backed resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, protection of civilians and aid workers, and removal of barriers to humanitarian aid. 'Any delay will only exacerbate civilian suffering and cost more lives,' the statement concluded, calling on all countries to support efforts toward a two-state solution.
TAG 91.1
3 days ago
- Health
- TAG 91.1
UAE to UN: Arab Group condemns Israel's use of 'starvation as weapon of war'
The UAE has delivered the 22-member Arab Group's strong condemnation of Israel for its "deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of war" in Gaza at a UN Security Council briefing on situation in the Middle East, calling it "starkly evident". Highlighting the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza during Wednesday's meeting, UAE Ambassador to the UN, Mohamed Abushahab, cited chaos at an aid distribution centre on Tuesday as evidence of the urgent need for full, unhindered access to aid across the Strip. The statement from the Arab Group highlighted that 160,000 tonnes of food supplies remain stalled at border crossings since Israel lifted the 11-week aid blockade. Only 408 trucks have been permitted to enter Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing, Abushahad said, adding that only 115 trucks have successfully delivered aid into Gaza. "A drop in the ocean compared to Gaza's overwhelming humanitarian needs," the statement asserted, highlighting that over 2 million Palestinians continue to face severe shortages of food and medicine, with no aid reaching the northern Strip. The Group, which includes Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Sudan and Egypt, also rejected Israel's proposed aid mechanism, arguing it violates humanitarian principles. The Group urged Israel to implement the UN's five-phase humanitarian aid plan without delay. "Since Israel's breach of the ceasefire last March, the systematic destruction of hope and life for Palestinians in Gaza has persisted," Abushahab said. The statement referenced the case of Dr. Alaa Al-Najjar, a pediatrician at Nasser Hospital, who lost nine of her 10 children in an Israeli airstrike — a powerful example, the group noted, of the human toll of the war. The statement also expressed alarm over Israel's continued military escalation in Gaza and the West Bank, the expansion of settlements, and changes to the legal and religious status quo at holy sites in Jerusalem. The group reaffirmed its backing of the Arab-Islamic plan for Gaza's recovery, led by Egypt in coordination with Palestine and the UN, and called for international support ahead of an upcoming reconstruction conference in Cairo. The UAE also called for the lifting of restrictions on UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, stressing its vital role in delivering aid and safeguarding refugee rights, including the right of return. The Group urged the UN Security Council to support the Algerian-backed resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, protection of civilians and aid workers, and removal of barriers to humanitarian aid. 'Any delay will only exacerbate civilian suffering and cost more lives,' the statement concluded, calling on all countries to recognise the State of Palestine and support efforts toward a two-state solution with East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital.
