Latest news with #TurkiAl-Faisal
Arab Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Having your cake and eating it too
THE primary objective of the Muslim Brotherhood is to seize power. They consider this not only legitimate but essential. Their existence as a religious group without power is, in their view, a temporary phase and merely a stepping stone toward eventual dominance. Despite being founded nearly a century ago, the Brotherhood's tangible achievements to date remain minimal. However, their one year in power in Egypt revealed the true nature of their ideology and the lack of a coherent strategy. This became clear when three million Egyptians took to the streets in a spontaneous uprising demanding their removal. One of the Muslim Brotherhood's main strategies for gaining influence has been to change society's collective thinking and raise money. Like other extremist movements, whether religious, fascist, or communist, they focused heavily on infiltrating and controlling the main sectors of society. This included education, school curricula, student unions, teachers' associations, and various media platforms. They placed their writers among newspaper columnists and established dozens of charitable organizations. However, what ultimately hindered their path to power was the widespread theft and financial misconduct committed by many of their members, especially among the leadership. Some of these organizations had amassed vast sums of money, which they sought to grow and invest to provide thousands of jobs for their supporters, particularly expatriates. They established dozens of companies and commercial ventures, especially in the education sector, generating significant profits and raising enough funds to support any future attempt to seize power. Therefore, they worked to establish dozens of private schools, using customized curricula and teaching methods to influence young minds and instill their flawed political ideology. Business and investment activities require proper licensing and adherence to specific legal conditions, requirements that religious parties typically do not meet. Moreover, the law prohibits such parties from engaging in commercial or investment ventures, and in some cases, their political entities are not even officially recognized by governments. As a result, religious parties are often forced to bypass these legal restrictions by entrusting large portions of their financial assets to business associates to manage. However, some associates acted dishonestly and seized the funds or a portion of them. Others passed away, and the entrusted wealth was inherited by their heirs. Some members and leaders of these religious parties exploited their political and financial influence to pursue personal agendas and engage in illegal activities. Many were also known for using lies to conceal their disgraceful actions and betrayals of national interests, particularly in the aftermath of Kuwait's liberation. Their behavior came as a shock to many commentators and prominent figures, including Prince Turki Al- Faisal, Sheikh Saud Al-Nasser, and others. Religious organizations use various methods to maintain their connections with young people, including through unions, Quran memorization courses, scouting activities, lectures, and nearly free educational programs, often offering valuable prizes to participants. One such activity is the Strategic Leadership Development Program for Youth, which is conducted online via Zoom from Istanbul. The group recently concluded its final course with a ceremony that included speeches from the program's supervisors, led by the general supervisor of the Muslim Brotherhood magazine in Kuwait. This is telling of the true intent behind these programs, which is to subtly gain followers while concealing the true face behind the program.
Leaders
18-04-2025
- Business
- Leaders
Prince Turki Al-Faisal Underscores Need to Support Palestinians
Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Jerusalem Empowerment Fund (JEF), has underscored the dire need of intensifying efforts to ensure economic and social empowerment of Palestinians. Al-Faisal's remarks were part of his speech at the JEF's expanded meeting with the Saudi business sector, organized by the Federation of Saudi Chambers in Riyadh on Wednesday, according to the Saudi Gazette. 'Palestine, and Jerusalem in particular, are going through difficult circumstances, which necessitates intensifying efforts to empower the Palestinian people economically and socially through the Jerusalem Empowerment Fund (JEF),' he said. The prince also encouraged the Saudi business sector to support the JEF and considered the meeting as a valuable platform to build new partnerships with several entities. Importantly, the meeting emphasized the Federation of Saudi Chambers' pivotal efforts in boosting the Saudi private sector's contribution to the causes and issues of the Islamic nation, particularly in supporting the Palestinian people. On his part, Vice President of the federation, Fayez Al-Shuaili, shed light on the Saudi Arabia's efforts in supporting Arab and Islamic causes and its crucial role in establishing Islamic organizations, such as the Islamic Development Bank and the JEF. Moreover, Al-Shuaili stressed the central role of the Saudi private sector in enhancing development programs and economic projects of Islamic organizations, its accomplishments in charitable and humanitarian work, and its positive engagement with humanitarian campaigns. Related Topics: Israel Resumes War in Gaza, Kills at Least 300 Palestinians KSrelief Continues Saudi Campaign to Aid Palestinians Saudi Arabia Launches Fifth Relief Ship to Aid Palestinians Short link : Post Views: 5
Saudi Gazette
16-04-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Prince Turki Al-Faisal calls for intensifying efforts for economic and social empowerment of Palestinians
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Prince Turki Al-Faisal, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Jerusalem Empowerment Fund, underlined the need to intensify efforts for economic and social empowerment of Palestinians. ''Palestine, and Jerusalem in particular, are going through difficult circumstances, which necessitates intensifying efforts to empower the Palestinian people economically and socially through the Jerusalem Empowerment Fund (JEF)," he said while addressing the expanded meeting of the Jerusalem Empowerment Fund with the Saudi business sector, organized by the Federation of Saudi Chambers in Riyadh on Wednesday. Prince Turki Al-Faisal called on the Saudi business sector to support the JEF, based on its societal role and religious duty. He considered the meeting as a good opportunity to double mobilization, build partnerships, and expand work, given the Islamic Development Bank's strong reputation and global presence. The meeting affirms the federation's active role in enhancing the Saudi private sector's contribution to the causes of the Islamic nation, most notably supporting the Palestinian people in particular. He said the meeting comes in support of Palestine and the steadfastness of its people. In his speech, Vice President of the Federation of Saudi Chambers Fayez Al-Shuaili highlighted the Kingdom's efforts in supporting Arab and Islamic causes and its pioneering role in establishing Islamic organizations, including the Islamic Development Bank and the JEF. He also emphasized the role of the Saudi private sector in supporting development programs and economic projects of Islamic organizations, its achievements in charitable and humanitarian work, and its positive engagement with humanitarian campaigns under the umbrella of relevant government agencies in the Kingdom. Acting Director of the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development Adel Al-Sharif, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of JEF Munib Al-Masri also spoke on the occasion. The meeting featured a visual presentation about the Jerusalem Empowerment Fund, which was established in 2021 as a trust and endowment fund administered by the Islamic Development Bank, pursuant to a decision by the Board of Directors of the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development. It aims to empower the Palestinian people economically and socially in Palestine in general and the city of Jerusalem in particular. The Fund's activities focus on four main sectors: education, housing, community development, and economic empowerment.
Arab News
02-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Frankly Speaking: Should Israel pay for rebuilding Gaza?
RIYADH: Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia's former intelligence chief and ambassador to the US and UK, has long been vocal about the plight of the Palestinian people and the destruction caused by Israel's military campaigns. Now, in the wake of the latest war in Gaza, he has called for a fundamental shift in how reconstruction efforts are financed — by forcing Israel to contribute to rebuilding the very infrastructure it has repeatedly destroyed. Appearing on the Arab News current affairs program 'Frankly Speaking,' Prince Turki laid out his case for why Israel should bear financial responsibility for the damage it has inflicted on Gaza and the West Bank — rather than the Gulf states footing the bill. 'I have been saying this for some time now, that there should be a fund, a worldwide fund for the reconstruction, not just in Gaza, but also in the West Bank. And Israel should be forced to chip in to that fund,' he told 'Frankly Speaking' host Katie Jensen. 'We can't have Israel, every time we reconstruct Gaza or the West Bank, coming and demolishing what has been reconstructed. That is unacceptable. 'And I think from now on, it is an issue of finality rather than temporary or procedural actions that are taken to build and then wait for the next round of destruction that comes from Israel. There has to be a finality for this situation by an end to the conflict.' Israel mounted its military operation in Gaza in retaliation for the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which saw some 1,200 people killed, most of them civilians, and around 250 taken hostage, many of them foreign nationals. At least 50,000 Palestinians were killed in the ensuing conflict and some 1.9 million displaced from their homes before a ceasefire deal was finally agreed on Jan. 19. Much of the enclave now lies in ruins and humanitarian needs are immense. Prince Turki said a permanent ceasefire was the only way to guarantee that reconstruction efforts were not repeatedly undone by future Israeli military operations. 'The next phase of the ceasefire, as we have seen, will see a permanent ceasefire come into effect not just in Gaza but all of Palestine,' he said. 'That is the only way that we can guarantee that whatever is reconstructed can remain as a viable Palestinian state that can become independent and self-governing with all of the rights of its people.' While much of the world's focus has been on Gaza, Prince Turki warned that Israeli policies in the West Bank, where refugee camps have been raided by troops and settler violence has increased, should not be overlooked. 'The struggle for Palestine has not ended with the ceasefire in Gaza,' he said. 'We see the Benjamin Netanyahu government doing similar things to what they did in Gaza in the West Bank, although at a slower pace than they did in Gaza.' 'They're uprooting people in the West Bank, emptying some of the refugee camps there, and forcibly driving residents of the camps out with no destination. That is unacceptable as well. That is a form of ethnic cleansing. And yet Israel gets away with it, and nobody — especially not the US — condemns it.' US President Donald Trump recently caused an international stir by sharing an AI-generated video on his Truth Social account depicting Gaza as a luxury holiday resort. In the surreal video, Palestinian children are seen emerging from rubble into a glitzy cityscape with cash raining from the sky. Elsewhere, Trump is seen sipping drinks with Netanyahu on a beachfront. The video was a reference to comments Trump made in recent weeks about the possibility of removing the Palestinian people en masse to Egypt and Jordan and rebuilding Gaza as a 'Riviera of the Middle East.' When asked what Trump was hoping to achieve by sharing the video, Prince Turki said: 'I don't know. No shock can be enough of a reaction to what he's up to. Some people have said that he does that in order to instigate or to inspire reaction in one form or another. 'Well, he doesn't need to do that, because definitely the brutality of the Israeli treatment of the Palestinians does inspire reactions not just from the Arab world but from the world community.' Despite the controversy, Prince Turki noted that the international community's response to the war in Gaza had been unprecedented. 'I must say that throughout this brutal attack on the Palestinians by the Netanyahu government, the world reaction has been quite good,' he said. 'You saw the demonstrations that took place and are still taking place in various places around the world in opposition to this brutality and in support of the freedom and independence of a Palestinian state. That is a very healthy sign.' With the Arab League holding an extraordinary summit on March 4 in Cairo to discuss alternative proposals for Gaza's postwar future, among other pressing issues facing the region, Prince Turki was cautious about predicting the outcome of the talks. 'I really have no idea whatsoever,' he said. 'Of course, I was not party to the talks and I have not seen any public statement about them. What I read in speculation, you know, in media outlets, whether in Israel or America or the Arab world, I would wait until the meeting takes place and we see what is said by the officials themselves.' Asked whether Hamas could have a role to play in governing postwar Gaza, perhaps as part of the Palestinian Authority, and whether the West would tolerate such an arrangement, Prince Turki said there were those within the Palestinian militant group who rightly prioritize the needs of the Gazan people who could well be included. 'When you say Hamas, there are individuals who are definitely neutral, if you like, and more in terms of not bound by party or by commitment to either Hamas or Fatah or any of the other Palestinian groupings there,' he said. 'Those are the people, I think, who should be in charge of Gaza and meeting the needs of the people of Gaza.' Turning to Lebanon, Prince Turki expressed optimism about the country's new government, headed by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Aoun arrives in Saudi Arabia on Monday on his first official trip abroad since being elected president on January 9. The new government was created after more than two years of political paralysis, which had prevented Lebanon's recovery from its devastating financial crisis that began in 2019 and the 15-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that began in October 2023. 'The Kingdom has wholeheartedly supported the actions of the Lebanese parliament in electing the president,' Prince Turki said. 'And now the president has designated a prime minister and I think they have announced a (cabinet) that hopefully will take its place as the ruling government of Lebanon.' He added: 'I think the Lebanese people are tired of having to be the sacrificial lamb, if you like, for either sectarian or other political factions, whether they be Hezbollah or some other Lebanese parties in the course of the development in the future. 'So, it is the Lebanese people, I think, who will be the safeguards of this new direction. And I hope that the support that is coming to Lebanon, not just from Saudi Arabia, but from the world community, will help that government to become more effective in meeting the needs of the Lebanese people.' Although the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia remains a substantial force in Lebanon, its mauling by Israel has left it severely diminished, allowing the Lebanese state to reassert itself. Prince Turki said Saudi investors are now eager to return to Lebanon. 'I hear from Saudis here that they're willing and anxious to be able, if you like, to go back to Lebanon,' he said. 'Those who have not invested yet, I think, are also thinking of the opportunities there. 'The Lebanese people are a very talented people, and Lebanon has always been a commercial hub for the Arab world. I remember my late father, King Faisal, used to say in those days, of course, that Lebanon is the lungs of the Arab world. I hope it returns to that.' The Kingdom recently hosted high-level talks between the US and Russia to discuss a potential peace deal in Ukraine and other topics. In doing so, they reinforced Saudi Arabia's position as a key player in global diplomacy. 'They seem to have set a course forward on a mutual return of diplomatic representation and also mutual cooperation, not only politically but also in terms of commercial and other enterprises that can bring benefit to their two peoples,' Prince Turki said of Moscow and Washington. 'It's good to see that the potential for nuclear war between America and Russia has decreased incredibly. Is a reassuring sign that we do not face a nuclear holocaust, for which there might have been a reason had this meeting not taken place.' Prince Turki, who is a co-founder and trustee of the Saudi-headquartered King Faisal Foundation, an international philanthropic organization, emphasized that the Kingdom's diplomatic efforts extended beyond Ukraine. Alluding to Riyadh's facilitation of peace parleys between Eritrea and Ethiopia; Djibouti and Ethiopia; and between the Houthi militia and the UN-recognized government of Yemen, he said: 'Saudis are proud that they are the place where people are coming to find solutions.'
Arab News
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Wadi Forum discusses Saudi Arabia's global role at Munich Security Conference
Powered by SRMG Think, Wadi Forum hosted a side event at the 61st Munich Security Conference titled 'A Conversation on Saudi Foreign Policy Priorities,' bringing together officials, experts and thought leaders. The international security conference gathers hundreds of senior decision-makers as well as thought leaders from around the world, including heads of state, ministers, leading personalities of international and non-governmental organizations, high-ranking representatives of industry, media, academia, and civil society, to engage in an intensive debate on international security policy. This year's conference focused on the emergence of 'multipolarization,' a defining shift in the global order that is reshaping geopolitics, trade, technology, and capital flows. A new administration has taken office in Washington, Europe is on the brink of a new legislative cycle in Brussels, and the Middle East faces heightened instability with ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon - all of which reflect the broader trend of multipolarization, an official statement noted. As power dynamics evolve in today's multipolar world, Saudi Arabia occupies a unique position. With its strategic influence, economic strength, and status as custodian of Islam's two holiest mosques, the Kingdom plays a critical role in bridging global divides. Its wide-ranging commercial, investment, and diplomatic efforts make it a key actor in shaping the future of the Middle East. The SRMG Think-powered discussion, held earlier this week, examined Saudi Arabia's foreign policy priorities in an era of geopolitical transformation. Among the attendees were Prince Turki Al-Faisal, chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies; Mohamed Alyahya, advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Rainer Rudolph, vice chairman of the conference; and Nedaa Almubarak, managing director of SRMG Think. Participants also discussed how Riyadh's view of the world has evolved over the past few years and what it means for the region's collective future. Discussions also focused on the Kingdom's role in promoting regional peace and stability, supporting prosperity, accelerating dialogue, and prioritizing economic development through its Vision 2030. Wadi Forum is an exclusive, off-the-record gathering that brings together officials, experts and thought leaders to discuss pressing issues in the MENA region.
