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Sisi, Abbas Hold Summit to Discuss Jerusalem Crisis

File Photo. A picture released by the Egyptian Presidency on July 17, 2014, shows President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo. AFP
File Photo. A picture released by the Egyptian Presidency on July 17, 2014, shows President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo. AFP
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Sisi, Abbas Hold Summit to Discuss Jerusalem Crisis

File Photo. A picture released by the Egyptian Presidency on July 17, 2014, shows President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo. AFP
File Photo. A picture released by the Egyptian Presidency on July 17, 2014, shows President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo. AFP

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is scheduled to hold talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo Monday, the Egyptian presidency unexpectedly announced, while Palestinian sources said that Jordanian King Abdullah II could also join the meeting.

Sisi invited his Palestinian counterpart to Cairo to discuss the latest developments concerning the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, said a statement issued by the Egyptian presidency.

It said Sisi wants to discuss with Abbas ways to deal with the crisis while preserving the Palestinian people’s rights, including their legitimate right to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Egyptian-Palestinian summit comes eight days ahead of the visit of US Vice President Mike Pence to the region.

Abbas has already announced his rejection to meet with Pence in protest over US President Donald Trump’s decision to transfer his country’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Trump’s decision last Wednesday has drawn a wave of condemnation from the Arab and Muslim world and from Western countries.

Egypt has rejected Washington’s decision and described it as a violation of UN resolutions.

Sisi telephoned on Sunday both the Jordanian King and Abbas.

The Egyptian President discussed with King Abdullah II developments related to Jerusalem in light of the US decision.

The Jordanian King stressed the importance of supporting the Palestinians in their quest to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He also highlighted the need to intensify Arab, Islamic and international efforts to protect the rights of Palestinians, Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem, which is key to achieving peace and stability in the region.

Meanwhile, the Arab League on Sunday warned that attempts to change the legal status of Jerusalem or to "change the Arab identity of the city" are "provocations to the feelings of Muslims and Christians throughout Arab and Islamic worlds and peace-loving peoples around the world.”

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Arab World

Iraqi Govt to Factions: We Are Not Concerned with Israeli-Iranian War

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani holds a meeting with leaders of the Coordination Framework coalition in Baghdad. (X)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani holds a meeting with leaders of the Coordination Framework coalition in Baghdad. (X)
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Iraqi Govt to Factions: We Are Not Concerned with Israeli-Iranian War

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani holds a meeting with leaders of the Coordination Framework coalition in Baghdad. (X)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani holds a meeting with leaders of the Coordination Framework coalition in Baghdad. (X)

Aside from a complaint to the United Nation Security Council against Israel over its violations of Iraq’s airspace, the Baghdad government is acting cautiously as it seeks to avoid become dragged into the conflict between Israel and neighboring Iran.

The authorities in Baghdad and the Iran-backed Coordination Framework realize the dangerous consequences of any action by the Iran-aligned armed factions.

Sources said the government and its allies have taken a “firm decision” to avoid any repercussions from the war and that no one should intervene in it “in any way, shape or form.”

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani held intense contacts with the heads of Shiite parties and factions to deliver one main message: “We are not concerned with taking part in this war.”

Even though they have not acted yet, the pro-Iran factions have stressed that they will not allow Israel to “exploit its position to wipe out their camps and the Popular Mobilization Forces.”

And yet, the factions are aware that their participation in the war will not “yield the desired strategic impact.”

Spokesman for the Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada faction Sheikh Kazem al-Fartousi told Asharq Al-Awsat that the “means at the factions’ disposal are not enough to change the course of the battle where all sorts of deadly missiles, technology and military equipment are being used.”

“The Iraqi authorities have not taken enough measures against the United States, which is backing Israel, and it appears to be helpless in doing anything to protect Iraq’s sovereignty,” he added.

Furthermore, he denied claims that booby-trapped drones had been launched from near the Iraqi-Iranian border. He also denied knowing anything about operations carried out by the armed factions against Israel from Iraqi territory.

They would usually announce their responsibility for such operations, he explained.

Sources said the drones were fired from Iranian military camps located inside Iraq territory near the border.

They added that the Iranians “have not yet decided whether to attack American bases in the region, but there is speculation that they have already prepared a list of targets that they will hit with an unprecedented missile barrage. The bases include Ain al-Assad and Harir in Iraq and bases in eastern Syria.”

A senior Iraqi official, however, said Baghdad had requested from Tehran that it refrain from attacking American interests in Iraq.

The Iranians said they were understanding of the request.

Researcher Nizar Haidar said the Iraqi PM had exerted extraordinary efforts with political leaders from the Coordination Framework to persuade the factions to hold back from attacking American interests.