UAE-Israel Accord Set for September 15

The national flags of Israel and the United Arab Emirates flutter along a highway following the agreement to formalize ties between the two countries, in Netanya, Israel August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Nir Elias -/File Photo
The national flags of Israel and the United Arab Emirates flutter along a highway following the agreement to formalize ties between the two countries, in Netanya, Israel August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Nir Elias -/File Photo
TT

UAE-Israel Accord Set for September 15

The national flags of Israel and the United Arab Emirates flutter along a highway following the agreement to formalize ties between the two countries, in Netanya, Israel August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Nir Elias -/File Photo
The national flags of Israel and the United Arab Emirates flutter along a highway following the agreement to formalize ties between the two countries, in Netanya, Israel August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Nir Elias -/File Photo

Israel and the United Arab Emirates will sign a US-brokered agreement normalizing their relations in Washington on September 15, a senior White House official said Tuesday.

President Donald Trump will host a historic signing ceremony at the White House, he announced.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said Tuesday that President Mahmoud Abbas will not accept insulting the national symbols of any of the Arab countries, including the UAE.

Abu Rudeineh said Abbas stressed the importance of maintaining good brotherly relations with all Arab countries on the basis of mutual respect, adding Arab countries must adhere to the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002.

The presidential statement came after the secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Nayef Al-Hajraf, condemned Monday “the irresponsible language of incitement and threat” used against GCC countries in a meeting for Palestinian factions.

The GCC chief deplored what he called “fallacies and skepticism” on the historic stance of GCC states in support of Palestinians.

Al-Hajraf called upon Palestinian leaders, as well as the participants in the meeting headed by Abbas, to apologize for these transgressions and provocative and false statements that are inconsistent with the reality and the history of relations between the GCC counties and Palestinians.

Also on Tuesday, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh affirmed that the Arab Peace Initiative is the reference set by Arabs to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict.

During a phone call with Fahd bin Mahmoud al-Said, Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Shtayyeh called on Muscat to play a role in a constructive Arab dialogue in order to restore Arab unity regarding various issues, particularly the Palestinian cause, and to develop a clear and joint Arab strategy to address these issues.

The Arab League is expected to hold a meeting in Cairo on Wednesday during which the accord between Israel and the UAE will be debated.



Saudi Arabia Calls for Halting Violations Committed Against Palestinians

Head of the Human Rights Section at the Saudi Arabia Mission to the United Nations in Geneva Asya Baakdah. Photo: Saudi Mission
Head of the Human Rights Section at the Saudi Arabia Mission to the United Nations in Geneva Asya Baakdah. Photo: Saudi Mission
TT

Saudi Arabia Calls for Halting Violations Committed Against Palestinians

Head of the Human Rights Section at the Saudi Arabia Mission to the United Nations in Geneva Asya Baakdah. Photo: Saudi Mission
Head of the Human Rights Section at the Saudi Arabia Mission to the United Nations in Geneva Asya Baakdah. Photo: Saudi Mission

Saudi Arabia has denounced all violations committed against the Palestinian people, with the killing of tens of thousands of civilians, predominantly women and children, in the Gaza Strip.

Head of the Human Rights Section at the Saudi Mission to the United Nations in Geneva Asya Baakdah, delivered on Wednesday the Kingdom’s statement during a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council, reiterating Saudi Arabia's firm rejection of the tragic situation and stressing the urgent need to put an end to it.

Baakdah highlighted the Kingdom’s hosting of the Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit, which adopted resolutions showing the unified will of Arab and Islamic nations.

She underscored the summit’s plea for an end to bloodshed, unrestricted access to humanitarian aid, and the fulfillment of the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people to reclaim their occupied territories and establish their independent state.

The diplomat said the Kingdom lauded the UN General Assembly resolution adopted on May 10, backing the eligibility of the Palestinian state for full membership in the United Nations.

Baakdah emphasized Saudi Arabia’s appreciation for actions taken by Norway, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and Armenia in acknowledging the Palestinian state, while urging other nations to follow suit with bilateral recognition.

Recognizing the collective duty to actively support the realization of an independent Palestinian state, Saudi Arabia -- in collaboration with its partners in the Ministerial Committee appointed by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit on Gaza Strip developments, as well as Norway and the European Union -- initiated a global alliance to push for the implementation of a two-state solution. The Kingdom calls upon all parties to join the initiative.