Latest news with #ArabMinisters


Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Arab, Islamic foreign ministers condemn Netanyahu's ‘Greater Israel' remark
RIYADH: The foreign ministers of Arab and Muslim nations on Saturday denounced statements about a "Greater Israel" that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reported to have made in the wake of pronouncements by his far-right allies to annex Palestinian territories. In a joint statement, the ministers said the pronouncements by Netanyahu and his ministers were "a blatant and dangerous violation" of international law. "They also constitute a direct threat to Arab national security, to the sovereignty of states, and to regional and international peace and security," said the statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, or SPA. (Developing story)


Asharq Al-Awsat
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Arab Foreign Ministers to Discuss Political Solutions to Iran-Israel Conflict in Istanbul
Arab foreign ministers are set to convene on the sidelines of the upcoming Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Istanbul early next week to discuss the repercussions of the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict and explore diplomatic avenues to reduce regional tensions, Egyptian and Arab diplomatic sources told Asharq Al-Awsat. The call for the meeting was spearheaded by Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, who urged an emergency session of Arab foreign ministers in Istanbul to coordinate a unified Arab stance amid rapidly evolving developments and regional challenges. Iraq currently holds the rotating presidency of the Arab League, having assumed the role from Bahrain at the regular summit held on May 17. The Iraqi foreign ministry confirmed that the minister's proposal followed a phone call with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty on Wednesday. Egypt's foreign ministry had earlier announced that Abdelatty engaged in consultations with ministers from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain to address the escalating military tensions and the broader implications for regional and international peace and security. An Arab diplomatic source said the upcoming meeting aims to discuss the impact of the Israeli-Iranian conflict and is part of intensified efforts to coordinate regional positions and ease the crisis. The 51st Council of Foreign Ministers meeting of OIC member states, hosted in Istanbul on June 22-23, will gather nearly 1,000 participants from the organization's 57 member states, along with affiliated institutions, observer states, and international organizations, reported Türkiye's Anadolu Agency. However, the source ruled out any immediate plans for an emergency Arab League summit to address the conflict. Another Egyptian diplomatic official told Asharq Al-Awsat that the OIC foreign ministers' meeting would feature several bilateral and multilateral sessions focused on regional coordination, adding that the Istanbul meetings aim to revive diplomatic negotiations. Egypt and several Arab countries have intensified diplomatic outreach to regional and international actors to push for a military de-escalation, a ceasefire, and prevent the conflict from spreading across the Middle East, the source said. Cairo University's Professor of International Relations Ikram Badreddine highlighted the importance of a coordinated Arab and Islamic position, describing it as a significant regional and international bloc. He told Asharq Al-Awsat that 'aligned stances among these countries could influence the current escalation and promote conflict containment.' He also warned of the risks posed by failure to contain the Israel-Iran conflict, including the potential involvement of major powers such as the United States, Russia, and Pakistan, which could further destabilize the region.


Al Jazeera
01-06-2025
- General
- Al Jazeera
Saudi Arabia calls Israel barring Arab ministers West Bank trip ‘extremism'
Saudi Arabia has accused Israel of 'extremism and rejection of peace' after it blocked a planned visit by Arab foreign ministers to the occupied West Bank. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud made the remarks during a joint news conference in Jordan's capital, Amman, on Sunday with his counterparts from Jordan, Egypt, and Bahrain. 'Israel's refusal of the committee's visit to the West Bank embodies and confirms its extremism and refusal of any serious attempts for [a] peaceful pathway … It strengthens our will to double our diplomatic efforts within the international community to face this arrogance,' Prince Faisal said. His comments followed Israel's decision to block the Arab delegation from reaching Ramallah, where they were set to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The ministers from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had planned the visit as part of efforts to support Palestinian diplomacy amid Israel's ongoing war on Gaza. Israel controls the airspace and borders of the West Bank, and on Friday announced it would not grant permission for the visit. 'The Palestinian Authority – which to this day refuses to condemn the October 7 massacre – intended to host in Ramallah a provocative meeting of foreign ministers from Arab countries to discuss the promotion of the establishment of a Palestinian state,' an Israeli official had said, adding that Israel will 'not cooperate' with the visit. Prince Faisal's trip to the West Bank would have marked the first such visit by a top Saudi official in recent memory. Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said blocking the trip was another example of how Israel was 'killing any chance of a just and comprehensive' Arab-Israeli settlement. An international conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, is due to be held in New York from June 17 to 20 to discuss the issue of Palestinian statehood. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the conference would cover security arrangements after a ceasefire in Gaza and reconstruction plans to ensure Palestinians would remain on their land and foil any Israeli plans to evict them. 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.


Reuters
01-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Saudi Arabia's foreign minister says Israel blocking Ramallah meeting proof of 'extremism'
AMMAN, June 1 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud said the Israeli government's refusal to allow a delegation of Arab ministers to the occupied West Bank showed its "extremism and rejection of peace". His statement came during a joint press conference in Amman with counterparts from Jordan, Egypt and Bahrain, after they met as part of an Arab contact group that was going to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. "Israel's refusal of the committee's visit to the West Bank embodies and confirms its extremism and refusal of any serious attempts for (a) peaceful pathway .. It strengthens our will to double our diplomatic efforts within the international community to face this arrogance," the Saudi minister said. On Saturday, Israel said it would not allow a planned meeting on Sunday that would have included ministers from Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, Palestinian Authority officials said. Bin Farhan's visit to the West Bank would have marked the first such visit by a top Saudi official in recent memory. An Israeli official said the ministers intended to take part in a "provocative meeting" to discuss promoting the establishment of a Palestinian state. Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said blocking the trip was another example of how Israel was "killing any chance of a just and comprehensive" Arab-Israeli settlement. An international conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, is due to be held in New York on June 17-20 to discuss the issue of Palestinian statehood. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the conference would cover security arrangements after a ceasefire in Gaza and reconstruction plans to ensure Palestinians would remain on their land and foil any Israeli plans to evict them. 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.

Al Arabiya
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Saudi Arabia's foreign minister says Israel blocking Ramallah meeting proof of ‘extremism'
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the Israeli government's refusal to allow a delegation of Arab ministers to the occupied West Bank showed its 'extremism and rejection of peace.' Developing