عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Palestinian UN Envoy: Israel Exploiting Trump’s Jerusalem Move to Destroy Two-State Solution

Riyad Mansour, permanent envoy of the State of Palestine to the United Nations. (AFP)
Riyad Mansour, permanent envoy of the State of Palestine to the United Nations. (AFP)
TT
TT

Palestinian UN Envoy: Israel Exploiting Trump’s Jerusalem Move to Destroy Two-State Solution

Riyad Mansour, permanent envoy of the State of Palestine to the United Nations. (AFP)
Riyad Mansour, permanent envoy of the State of Palestine to the United Nations. (AFP)

Palestinian permanent envoy to the United Nations Dr. Riyad Mansour sent on Saturday three letters to the UN to condemn Israel’s “provocative” policies that are hampering the two-state solution and paving the way for a new round of bloodshed in the region.

The official sent a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, head of the Security Council for January Kairat Umarov of Kazakhstan and General Assembly president Miroslav Lajcak of Slovakia.

Mansour added that in wake of the US administration’s provocative decision on Jerusalem, Israel had intensified its blatant violations across occupied Palestinian territory. This included killing and imprisonment operations in the Gaza Strip, which has left 16 Palestinians dead in the few recent weeks.

US President Donald Trump announced on December 6 that he was recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, sparking outrage across the Muslim and Arab world.

Mansour also referred to “illegal provocative unilateral decisions by the hardline Israeli government” which included a recent agreement to annex parts of the West Bank.

In addition, he noted the Israeli Knesset’s passing of a law that says that restoring any part of Jerusalem to Palestinians requires a vote by 80 of the body’s 120 members.

Mansour hailed some Knesset members for deeming the law as “illegal.”

The envoy warned against attempts to alter the status of the city, saying that any move in that direction would violate UN General Assembly resolution 181 and international law.

He concluded his letters to the UN officials by demanding that the international community take a clear stance on the developments in the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.

He called for rejecting the Israeli violations that are aimed at altering the status in these regions, reiterating that Israeli settlements are the greatest threat to peace and the two-state solution.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Iraq Frustrated by Iran’s Reluctance to Rein in Militias

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has cautioned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the threats facing Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (X)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has cautioned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the threats facing Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (X)
TT
TT

Iraq Frustrated by Iran’s Reluctance to Rein in Militias

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has cautioned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the threats facing Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (X)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has cautioned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the threats facing Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (X)

A senior government official said Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has warned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the “risks to Iraq” from the growing conflict between Israel and Iran.

The official added that Iran is using “deception” when asked to distance its allied militias from the war.

Political and government figures are increasingly worried that Iraq could be hit, after two Israeli soldiers were killed in a drone strike on the Golan Heights early Friday.

Speaking anonymously to Asharq Al-Awsat, the official said al-Sudani is taking steps to keep Iraq out of the conflict.

These efforts include ramping up “political mediation” to persuade militias not to involve Iraq. The prime minister “informed Coordination Framework leaders of the risks” and urged them to “act quickly.”

The official also warned that an attack is still possible, saying intelligence shows the Iraqi militias launched the strike from outside Iraq, using weapons that came from Iraqi territory.

Al-Sudani’s Mediation Efforts

The Iraqi premier has chosen mediators, approved by Iran, to negotiate with militias about the conflict and conditions for de-escalation. These three individuals have previously acted as mediators in past crises.

Last week, Asharq Al-Awsat reported that al-Sudani asked three key Shiite figures to intervene and prevent militias from getting involved in the war between Hezbollah and Israel, after reports surfaced that Israel had identified 35 Iraqi targets.

Sources confirmed that Ammar al-Hakim is among the mediators, along with two other influential Shiite leaders whose names haven’t been disclosed.

However, two Iraqi militias—likely the al-Nujaba Movement led by Akram al-Kaabi and Kataib Hezbollah led by Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi—have refused to cooperate and continue launching rocket attacks on Israel.

The Iraqi official admitted that some militias are “stubborn,” but stressed that al-Sudani knows Iraq is “at the center of the storm.”

He reportedly told leaders of the Coordination Framework, “Iraq cannot avoid a military strike if it happens, so we must stay out of the war to protect the country.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in a Friday sermon, stated that “Iran’s allies in the region won’t back down,” increasing concerns that Iraqi militias tied to Iran will continue attacking Israel.

Iraqi sources also reported that the Coordination Framework has reviewed an “intelligence report” on dozens of Iraqi targets that Israel might strike or assassinate.

Government Efforts to Prevent Escalation

Al-Sudani has blocked the flow of Iraqi funds into conflict zones, unlike previous leaders, according to the official.

He has worked closely with the US and its Treasury Department to strictly monitor financial movements, often insisting that Iran uses official channels to claim its dues from Iraq.

The official also said global auditing firms are now helping Iraq’s central bank oversee financial transactions, shutting down all previous routes for illicit money flows.

Since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, the US told Iraq it pressured Israel not to strike Iraq, as long as Iraq stays out of the conflict, the official added.

The US doesn’t oppose Iraq’s stance of condemning Israel, supporting Lebanon and Palestine, and sending aid.

But it “won’t accept any financial or military support to militias.”

Regarding Iran’s role, the official said Tehran claims militias act independently, dodging responsibility for reining them in.