Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki today called on the Arab countries to reject the Israeli-Emirati normalization agreement, for his part, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan expressed his country's standing with the Palestinian people and reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, and his Omani counterpart Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi said that he does not Peace between the Arab states and Israel can be achieved without the two-state solution, which is based on the principle of land for peace.
Al-Maliki said in a speech during his presidency of the meeting of the League of Arab States at the level of foreign ministers, "We reject the step of the Emirati normalization, and we hope that you will not accept it."
He added, "As if what the occupation is doing to us and the American administration is not enough for us until the free normalization declaration comes out."
On August 13, the UAE and Israel announced an agreement to normalize relations between them with US mediation, which was rejected by the Palestinian leadership and factions and described it as a betrayal, and the agreement is expected to be signed in the middle of this month at the American White House.
Objection and procrastination
. Al-Maliki explained that Palestine had requested an emergency meeting of the Arab League to discuss the normalization agreement, but an Arab country (he did not mention it) objected and requested that it be replaced by the regular session.
"When we agreed to that, we were surprised again that the same country objected to our request to add a clause to new work, while another country threatens to submit an alternative draft resolution," he added.
A few days ago, the Palestinian Authority submitted a draft resolution to the Arab League, in which it indicated that the tripartite declaration between Israel, the United States and the UAE should not detract from the Arab consensus on the Palestinian issue.
Palestinian sources reported that the Secretary-General of the League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, procrastinated in circulating the Palestinian draft resolution, in exchange for speeding up the circulation of a request not to be discussed by the Kingdom of Bahrain and supported by the UAE.
Arab newspapers had said that Manama was the one that objected to holding the emergency meeting demanded by Palestine.
Palestinian Foreign Minister (right) and Secretary General of the Arab League (Palestinian Press)
Resisting pressures
In return, the Palestinian foreign minister thanked the Arab countries, which he said had "rejected the blackmail of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to rush towards normalization."
Al-Maliki described the US administration as the exclusive agent for normalization with the occupying power.
He also criticized the Arab countries' failure to implement their own decisions on Palestine, including the financial safety net and the position on the American peace plan.
In a series of tweets, the Saudi Foreign Minister expressed his country's stand by the Palestinian people during his speech at the Arab League meeting.
He added at the Arab ministerial meeting, which was held remotely, that the Kingdom supports efforts aimed at reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, enabling the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international legitimacy decisions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
For his part, Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi affirmed that his country continues its firm support for the legitimate aspirations and demands of the Palestinian people, and the right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
In his speech to the Arab foreign ministers, he added that a comprehensive and just peace between the Arab countries and Israel cannot be achieved without a two-state solution based on the principle of land for peace, and an end to the occupation of Palestinian lands.
It is noteworthy that the ministerial meeting of the Arab League will discuss a number of political, security, social, health and administrative items, foremost of which are developments in the Palestinian cause, and Arab cooperation in the field of addressing the Coronavirus pandemic.