As the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip continues, Arab countries are seeking to determine ways to support the Strip after the end of the war, putting forward a basic condition for their engagement, which is setting a clear path to establishing a Palestinian state.
Agence France-Presse reported that the obstacles to achieving this are great, the most important of which is gaining the support of the administration of US President Joe Biden, and the support of the Israeli government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu for the two-state solution.
But the Arab Five-Year Committee, which includes Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt, made it clear that its financial and political support, which is essential for the future of the devastated sector, will only come at a price.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said during the special meeting of the World Economic Forum – held last month in Riyadh – that there must be a real path towards a Palestinian state and an actual political path.
Last month, European and Arab foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the special meeting of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh to discuss how to move forward with the two-state solution.
The future of the Gaza Strip will also top the agenda of the Arab League summit, which will be held tomorrow, Thursday, in Bahrain.
Reform of the Palestinian Authority
An Arab diplomat familiar with the meetings of the foreign ministers of the Arab group told Agence France-Presse that the discussion will focus first on ways to pressure for a ceasefire and facilitate the entry of more aid, and politically it will focus on pressuring the United States for two things: establishing a Palestinian state and recognition. In the United Nations.
He stressed that what is hindering this is the continuation of the war and Netanyahu’s intransigent position on establishing a Palestinian state.
For her part, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Program at the Chatham House Institute, Sanam Wakil, reported that Arab leaders are trying to work with the Biden administration to provide mutual support for the plan the day after the end of the war in the Gaza Strip.
She added that one of the pillars of their plan is to reform the Palestinian Authority to pave the way for the reunification of administration in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
In this regard, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani said during the Qatar Economic Forum yesterday, Tuesday, that his country believes in a single Palestinian government responsible for the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
He added that Qatar is working with its Arab partners in the so-called Six-Party Committee, which includes Arab countries in addition to the United States, to try to think of the best way to move to the “post-war phase” in a way that does not affect the Palestinian people or the Palestinian cause, and does not undermine the Palestinian Authority.
Rejection of Arab forces in Gaza
With the occupation proposing to administer the Gaza Strip by Arab forces in the post-war period, Arab leaders confirmed that they did not want to engage in civil administration of Gaza or send forces on the ground.
Last Saturday, UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed confirmed that his country refuses to “be drawn into any plan aimed at providing cover for the Israeli presence in the Gaza Strip.”
Last month, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said that Arab countries would not send their forces to the Gaza Strip to avoid their involvement being linked to “the misery created by this war.”
He also stressed in Riyadh that the Arab countries have a plan, and they know what they want, which is “peace based on the two-state solution.”
Likewise, the Gulf states confirm that they will not participate in covering the costs of rebuilding the sector without obtaining guarantees.
Last February, the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lana Nusseibeh, said that it is not possible to continue allocating funds and then see everything that has been built destroyed.