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Arab News
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan calls for international support for Arab League–OIC plan to reconstruct Gaza
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad this week called on the international community to support the Arab League's and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) plan to reconstruct Gaza, saying it is essential to lay the foundations of lasting peace in the Middle East. In March, the Arab League ratified its plan to reconstruct Gaza, proposing to rebuild the Palestinian territory without displacing its 2.4 million residents at a cost of $53 billion. Days later the OIC endorsed the plan, which was a counterproposal to a controversial one by US President Donald Trump in which he suggested to take over Gaza and displace its residents. At a UN Security Council briefing on the Middle East, Ahmad urged the Security Council to "act with urgency and clarity" to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict. "We call for international support to the Arab League–OIC Plan for Recovery and Reconstruction in Gaza," Ahmad said. "This plan is essential not only for rebuilding Gaza but also for restoring hope and laying the foundation for lasting peace." The Pakistani envoy said Israel must immediately cease its military operations in Gaza and the West Bank, adding that a permanent ceasefire must be established without further delay. "Second, the blockade on humanitarian aid must be lifted fully and unconditionally," Ahmad said. "The UN and humanitarian organizations must be granted safe and unimpeded access." Ahmad demanded a "credible and irreversible political process" for the two-state solution in the Middle East, reiterating Pakistan's demand for a separate and independent Palestinian state based on the pre-June 1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. "We support the earliest resumption of the high-level international conference to advance this goal," he said. Israel's military has renewed its focus on Gaza after its 12-day conflict with Iran. The Jewish state's retaliatory military campaign against Hamas has killed at least 56,412 people in Gaza since October 2023. Most of the dead are civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The United Nations considers these figures to be reliable. Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic ties with Israel, has condemned its war on Gaza since it began in 2023 and has called on the international community to intervene to stop Palestinian civilians from getting killed.
The National
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Syria's Al Shara to skip Arab Summit in Iraq after protests over invitation
Syrian leader Ahmad Al Shara will not travel to Baghdad for the Arab Summit this weekend, Syrian state media has reported, after an invitation from Iraq's Prime Minister sparked protests over his Al Qaeda past. Syria's delegation will instead be led by Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani, state-owned channel Ekhbariya TV said on Monday. Many Iraqis object to Mr Al Shara's history with Al Qaeda in Iraq, where he served as a senior field leader for the extremist group fighting US and Iraqi troops after the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Rallies have been taking place across Iraq in recent weeks since Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani invited Mr Al Shara to Saturday's event, which will be Baghdad's first time hosting Arab League leaders in more than a decade. The Iraqi capital has issued a ban on protests in the run-up to the summit, with the Interior Ministry saying security forces will arrest anyone breaking the order. The annual Arab Summit comes at a critical time for the region, as Israel's war on Gaza intensifies, and Iran and the US hold talks in an attempt to reach a deal on curbing Tehran's nuclear programme. The event is expected to focus on Gaza reconstruction. For the Iraqi government, the summit is a way to underline the return of Baghdad to a central role in the Middle East after decades of war and political isolation. But the Iraqi Prime Minister has faced widespread criticism for inviting Mr Al Shara, whose Hayat Tahrir Al Sham group seized power in Damascus last December in a rebel offensive that toppled former Syrian president Bashar Al Assad. Mr Al Shara was one of thousands of foreign fighters who travelled to Iraq after the 2003 US invasion, mainly through Syria. American troops arrested him in 2005 and he was released about six years later. He then returned to Syria and formed an Al Qaeda-affiliated rebel group fighting against Mr Al Assad's troops. He broke ties with Al Qaeda in 2016 and formed HTS. Mr Al Shara's decision not to attend the summit highlights Syria's mixed results establishing ties across the region since he took power last year. He has made rapid inroads with Gulf Arab states including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, but has tread more carefully with others where Iran has had strong influence, such as Iraq.
Asharq Al-Awsat
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Syria's Sharaa Skips Iraq Summit After Firestorm Over Invitation
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will not attend the Arab League Summit in Baghdad this weekend, Syrian state media said on Monday, after Iraq's invitation spurred criticism from pro-Iran groups. Syria's delegation to Saturday's summit will be headed by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, state-owned Ekhbariya TV reported, without providing a reason for Sharaa's absence. The summit is expected to focus on Gaza reconstruction and the Palestinian issue. Sharaa's decision highlighted Syria's mixed results establishing ties across the region after former President Bashar al-Assad's ouster last year. Sharaa has made rapid inroads with Gulf Arab states Saudi Arabia and Qatar, but has tread more carefully with others where Iran has had strong influence, like Iraq. Several influential Iraqi politicians had voiced opposition to Sharaa's visit. They include former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, a leading member of Iraq's main pro-Iran coalition that holds a parliamentary majority. Armed groups aligned with Tehran had also joined the call against Sharaa, including the Kataeb Hezbollah faction, which previously fought in Syria alongside Assad's forces. Sharaa fought with Al-Qaeda in Iraq after the US-led invasion in 2003. He was imprisoned there for more than five years, then released for lack of evidence in 2011, according to a senior Iraqi security official. Several Iraqi security sources told AFP that an old arrest warrant for Sharaa from his time as a member of Al-Qaeda remains in place. However, authorities seek good relations with Syria's new leadership to help maintain regional stability, the sources said. Sunni politicians largely welcomed Sharaa's participation in the summit as a step towards pulling Iraq away from Iran and towards the Arab fold. "There are elements... working against Iraq's progress to reclaim its rightful place within the Arab community," said Raad al-Dahlaki, head of Azm Alliance, a major Sunni bloc in Iraq's parliament.
Reuters
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Syria's Sharaa skips Iraq summit after firestorm over invitation
BAGHDAD/DAMASCUS May 12 (Reuters) - Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will not attend the Arab League Summit in Baghdad this weekend, Syrian state media said on Monday, after Iraq's invitation spurred controversy over the rebel-turned-leader's potential return to a country where he fought and was jailed. Syria's delegation to Saturday's summit will be headed by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, state-owned Ekhbariya TV reported, without providing a reason for Sharaa's absence. The summit is expected to focus on Gaza reconstruction and the Palestinian issue. Sharaa's decision highlighted Syria's mixed results establishing ties across the region after former President Bashar al-Assad's ouster last year. Sharaa has made rapid inroads with Sunni-majority Gulf Arab states Saudi Arabia and Qatar, but has tread more carefully with others where Iran has had strong influence, like Shi'ite-majority Iraq. Sharaa fought with Al Qaeda in Iraq after the U.S-led invasion in 2003. He was imprisoned there for more than five years, then released for lack of evidence in 2011, according to a senior Iraqi security official. He then opened Al Qaeda's branch in Syria, breaking away in 2016 to form what became Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group that ousted Assad. Iraq's prime minister invited Sharaa last month to the summit, prompting criticism from mainly Shi'ite Muslim factions who accuse Sharaa of orchestrating attacks against Shi'ites during his years in Iraq. At least 57 Shi'ite lawmakers in Iraq's 329-member legislature petitioned the government to bar Sharaa from the summit, a copy of the request seen by Reuters showed. Rumours circulated that he could face an arrest warrant, but Iraqi authorities denied this. Sunni politicians largely welcomed his participation in the summit as a step towards pulling Iraq away from Iran and towards Arab states, who have largely backed Sharaa. "There are elements... working against Iraq's progress to reclaim its rightful place within the Arab community," said Raad al-Dahlaki, head of Azm Alliance, a major Sunni bloc in Iraq's parliament. Analysts view Iraq as the last strong pillar in Iran's so-called Axis of Resistance after Assad's ouster and Israel's degrading of Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. Some Syrians were also concerned that Sharaa could face danger in Iraq. For his Iraqi critics, "it's not going to be easy for them to digest, nor for the Syrian secret service to disregard those threats," said Mahmoud Toron, an analyst close to the Syrian government.
Leaders
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Leaders
Foreign Minister Begins Official Visit to Qatar
Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, arrived in Doha today for an official visit to the State of Qatar. During his visit, Prince Faisal will lead the Saudi delegation at the Executive Committee meeting of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council. Upon his arrival, he was welcomed by Ahmad Hassen Al-Hammadi, Secretary-General of the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan, the Saudi Ambassador to Qatar. Related Topics : Arab FMs, US Mideast Envoy Discuss Gaza Reconstruction in Doha Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrives in Tehran Prince Mohammed bin Salman Award: Strengthening Saudi-Chinese Cultural Ties Crown Prince Meets Egyptian Prime Minister Short link : Post Views: 28 Related Stories
