Preparatory Ministerial Meeting Reviews Draft Resolution for Riyadh Summit

Mohammad Shtayyeh, Palestinian Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (from the Prime Minister’s official Facebook page).
Mohammad Shtayyeh, Palestinian Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (from the Prime Minister’s official Facebook page).
TT

Preparatory Ministerial Meeting Reviews Draft Resolution for Riyadh Summit

Mohammad Shtayyeh, Palestinian Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (from the Prime Minister’s official Facebook page).
Mohammad Shtayyeh, Palestinian Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (from the Prime Minister’s official Facebook page).

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan will inaugurate, on Sunday, the preparatory ministerial meeting for the extraordinary Arab and Islamic summit to be held in Riyadh on Monday, at the invitation of Saudi Arabia.
The summit is set to discuss the ongoing Israeli hostilities against the Palestinian and Lebanese territories, as well as the developments in the region. The ministers are also expected to discuss the draft resolution for Monday’s extraordinary Arab and Islamic summit, in preparation for presenting it to the leaders and coordinating positions among member states.

Asharq Al-Awsat obtained a draft of the meeting’s agenda, which reported that the opening session will be closed.
Speeches will be delivered by the Saudi minister, Hussein Ibrahim Taha, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation; Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary-General of the Arab League; Palestinian Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Mohammad Shtayyeh; and Abdullah Bou Habibi, Lebanon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Taha emphasized that holding this summit in Riyadh is of great significance and strategic value, reflecting the strong commitment and concern of Saudi Arabia and all member states of the OIC and the Arab League in supporting the Palestinian people.
The summit affirms “the importance of joint Islamic action and its role in achieving unity, solidarity, and the coordination of positions, expressing the collective voice of member states, and strengthening their joint efforts in international forums", said Taha.

He stressed that the goal is to “mobilize the international community to halt the ongoing Israeli aggression, allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, hold the Israeli occupation accountable, and implement the two-state solution".



Arab, Islamic, African Mechanism Established to Support Palestinian Cause

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan (Reuters)
TT

Arab, Islamic, African Mechanism Established to Support Palestinian Cause

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan (Reuters)

The Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the African Union (AU) signed a tripartite agreement on Monday to support the Palestinian cause, during the Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh.

The move was praised by the summit, especially for the African Union’s strong position on the issue.

According to information obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, the mechanism will be coordinated through the organizations’ secretariats. Representatives will meet regularly to align their positions and strengthen their influence in international forums.

Joint coordination meetings will be held soon to finalize the details of the agreement.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan welcomed the cooperation, noting that the three organizations will now speak with one voice internationally, instead of through individual bilateral talks.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit added that while Arab-African and Arab-Islamic cooperation already exists, this is the first time an agreement has united the three organizations on this issue.

He said the agreement will expand cooperation and set a clear strategy moving forward.