Latest news with #PalestinianCause
Arab News
3 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Adviser to UAE president warns of regional gridlock without strategic shifts
DUBAI: Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, defended the country's foreign policy and addressed the Arab world's uncertain geopolitical landscape during a panel discussion at the Arab Media Summit in Dubai. 'How can you explain everything that is happening in the Arab world now?' asked Taher Baraka, presenter at Al Arabiya. Gargash responded with a single word: 'Uncertainty.' Elaborating on this theme, he pointed to the fragile resurgence of nations such as Syria and Lebanon as central to the region's current volatility. 'We have two Arab worlds,' he said. 'There is the GCC, and then there are Arab countries that are suffering.' Gargash emphasized the UAE's proactive foreign policy, which he described as essential to fostering stability and peace for the Emirati people. 'We know we have to address the problems in our region,' he said. 'Yes, there are challenges — but there is also significant potential.' He also addressed criticism surrounding the UAE's decision to normalize ties with Israel, a move that has sparked debate across the Arab world. 'Normalization is being used as a scare tactic,' he said. 'But it is a sovereign decision, and for us, it was the right choice.' Despite this stance, Gargash reaffirmed the UAE's enduring support for the Palestinian cause. 'Our commitment to the Palestinian people and their right to a state remains unchanged. Their suffering brings us real pain,' he said. Gargash argued that without normalization, the Arab world risks clinging to outdated strategies that perpetuate conflict and division. Using the metaphor of a 'bottleneck,' he described the political paralysis in Syria and Lebanon, where armed militias continue to undermine national sovereignty. 'We cannot have two armies in one country,' he said. 'We need realistic priorities.' Gargash highlighted the UAE's role in supporting crisis-hit nations, pointing to the large Lebanese and Syrian diasporas in the Emirates. 'The UAE has been the breathing lungs for Lebanon and Syria during the height of their crises. Many of their citizens came here and thrived. If they can innovate here, they can innovate in Lebanon or Syria,' he said.
Asharq Al-Awsat
4 days ago
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia Underscores its Continued Efforts to Support Palestinian Cause
The Saudi government underlined on Tuesday its ongoing efforts with members of the international community to support the Palestinian cause, end the war on Gaza, allow the flow of humanitarian aid and cease the Israeli violations against international laws and norms. Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the cabinet meeting that was held in Jeddah. The ministers reviewed the latest regional and international developments and Saudi Arabia's contacts and meetings with world countries over the past week that are aimed at bolstering cooperation and coordination on global affairs. The cabinet was briefed on the Kingdom's preparations to organize the Hajj pilgrimage, which begins next week. The pilgrimage will be held according to the highest standards and greatest levels of coordination and integration between the relevant entities to allow the pilgrims to perform the holy rituals with ease. Saudi Arabia has dedicated mega development projects and infrastructure to serve pilgrims from across the globe. The cabinet expressed the Saudi leadership and people's honor in serving the visitors of the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah, in continuation of its pioneering role in the Islamic world. It asked God Almighty that the pilgrims perform their rituals safely and at ease. The cabinet reviewed Saudi Arabia's participation at the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council and Gulf-ASEAN-China meetings in Malaysia. The Kingdom stressed its support to international initiatives aimed at achieving sustainable development and regional stability and that will help build a prosperous future for the world. The cabinet also highlighted Saudi Arabia and Kuwait's new oil discovery in the Neutral Zone, saying it was a positive step that will bolster bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.
The National
4 days ago
- General
- The National
'Show the injustices': Grand Imam of Al Azhar calls on Arab media to rally behind Gaza
The Grand Imam of Al Azhar has called on Arab journalists to focus on the war in Gaza and establish a joint media strategy to protect the truth and Arab identity. Dr Ahmed El Tayeb, who is also chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, said Arab media had a role to play in showing the injustices in Gaza and how its people were being treated. 'Arab media should focus day and night on Gaza's destruction and war and terrible violations that have been criticised by all people of the world for 19 months,' Dr El Tayeb said in keynote speech at the Arab Media Summit in Dubai on Tuesday. 'Arab media has the biggest role in disclosing and showing the injustices in Gaza and keeping the Palestinian cause at the front of nations' minds.' He recalled tragedy of hundreds of Palestinian journalists who were either killed or injured. 'Over 200 journalists in Gaza are martyred and more are injured or have lost their homes and families. This deliberate targeting of journalists aims to silence the truth and to stop the reality of the horrific aggression in Gaza,' he said. Dr El Tayeb said there was a change of stance on the Palestinian cause by many European countries, who were now standing up over what Gaza is facing. He thanked Arab governments for their efforts to provide aid to Gazans. 'I also salute the free people of the world who consider what is happening as humanitarian crime that should stop immediately,' he said. Dr El Tayeb underscored the vital role of media in addressing global challenges, promoting dialogue and supporting societal values. 'Arabs and Muslims have suffered from media damage in the West after being accused of terrorism and being unfair to women,' he said. 'We are still waiting for intensive media efforts to stand against Islamophobia.' Dr El Tayeb said he had held discussions with the late Pope Francis and the Vatican to create a document about the ethics of artificial intelligence, to protect the interests of the public. 'The rapid development of AI should be regulated and surrounded with morality and ethical considerations, in order not to turn into a monster threatening humanity,' he said. 'The document was almost finalised and was about to announce but the Pope passed before we had finished. We are in communicant with Vatican to finish the project.'
Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Keep the Palestinian cause burning, Grand Imam urges Arab media
The Grand Imam of Al Azhar Mosque called for journalists to focus on the Palestinian cause, citing the historical responsibility that Arab media bears. Ahmed Al Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, highlighted the role of Arab media and its responsibility for reporting on the oppression faced by Arabs. He said the media in the Arab world should "highlight the steadfastness of this people, and its obsession with the land, and to keep the cause of Palestine burning and burning in the hearts of the peoples of the world, in the East and the West." Al Tayeb spoke on the second day of the Arab Media Summit, a three-day gathering with around 8,000 Arab media professionals attending. "The issue that the Arab media should focus on is the issue of the people of Gaza and the wars and destruction it has caused, and the terrible violations it has caused, which have been denied by the peoples of the world, and which have continued for 19 consecutive months. "I would also like to remind the free world that those who see a humanitarian crime happening must stop it immediately," Al-Tayeb said. Al Azhar Mosque is a key and historic institution in Egypt that dates back to the Fatimid Caliphate in the 10th century. The current Grand Imam, Al Tayeb, has been serving his post since 2010 after he was appointed by the then Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.
Arab News
4 days ago
- General
- Arab News
Arab media has 'biggest role' in showing Gaza injustices, says Al-Azhar's grand imam
DUBAI: Arab media has the 'biggest role' in showing injustices in Gaza, said the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmad Al-Tayeb on Tuesday. 'Thousands of journalists in Gaza are being martyred and more injured and lost their homes and families. This deliberate targeting of journalists aims to silence the truth and to stop the reality of the atrocities in Gaza being broadcast to the world,' he said. 'I call on all media professionals to establish a joint Arab media strategy that will be a shield to protect the truth and our Arab identity,' he said. Al-Tayeb said Arabs and Muslims suffer from media misinformation and disinformation in the West. 'We as Arab and Muslims have suffered from media damage after being accused of terrorism and being unfair to women and linking Islam to these extremist ideologies,' said Al-Tayeb. Al-Tayeb said the late Palestinian intellectual Edward Said had demonstrated convincingly how Western cultural production is used to vilify Arabs, Islam and Muslims. He added: 'The destruction happening in Gaza is being criticized by all people of the world but it has been ongoing for 19 months. 'The Arab media has the biggest role in disclosing and showing how the people in Gaza are being treated and keeping the Palestinian cause at the front of everyone's minds.' 'We are witnessing the change of stances in many EU countries for the Palestinian cause and standing up for the atrocities that Gaza is facing. I would like to thank the efforts of the Arab governments in facilitating the delivery and providing of aid to the people in Gaza,' he said. Al-Tayeb said many have refused to speak out about the atrocities in Gaza. 'Those who criticized us and claimed to care about human principles stayed silent to the injustices in Gaza,' he said. Al-Tayeb said Al-Azhar had discussions with the late Pope Francis and the Vatican to create an artificial intelligence project that protects the interests of the public. 'The project was almost finalized, however, the pope passed before we had finished and now we are in communication with the Vatican to hopefully finalize the work,' he said. 'The use of AI should be regulated and practiced with morality and ethical considerations in order to avoid it turning into a monster,' he said.
