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Palestinian President Says Ready to Resume Peace Talks

Spain's Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya speaks during a news conference with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. AFP
Spain's Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya speaks during a news conference with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. AFP
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Palestinian President Says Ready to Resume Peace Talks

Spain's Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya speaks during a news conference with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. AFP
Spain's Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya speaks during a news conference with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. AFP

Palestinians are ready to resume peace negotiations with Israel, President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday.

During his meeting with Spain’s Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez, Abbas stressed that negotiations should be based on “international resolutions” and mediated by the Quartet (the European Union, the United Nations, Russia and the United States).

Gonzalez conveyed a letter from Spain’s Prime Minister in which he affirmed the distinguished bilateral relations and his country's keenness to bolster them.

The premier also noted Spain’s steadfast support to the political process based on the principle of the two-state solution.

Abbas hailed Spain’s stances that come in line with the international law and the EU resolutions that support achieving peace based on international legitimacy decisions.

Gonzalez reiterated her country’s position in support of peace on the principle of the two-state solution and international law, noting that Spain will continue to back the Palestinian people to build the institutions of the Palestinian state.

At a press conference following her meeting with her Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Gonzalez said Palestine will always be present on the list of countries that will receive the COVID-19 vaccine once developed and proven effective.

Both sides discussed the memorandum of understanding signed via videoconference in October, which defines bilateral development cooperation at a value of 100 million euros for the years 2020-2024.

She told reporters that Spain has decided to provide $5 million in urgent aid to the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to continue its services to Palestinian refugees in education and public health.

Separately, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Shtayyeh urged Finland to break the status quo by recognizing the state of Palestine and preserve the two-state solution.

He pointed during his meeting with Finnish representative to the PA Paivi Peltokoski to the ongoing Israeli violations and settlement expansion.

The Premier stressed the efforts exerted to hold an international peace conference and find a fair and comprehensive solution for the Palestinian cause, in accordance with the international legitimacy.

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Cairo May Request Extradition of Qaradawi’s Son from Abu Dhabi

Umayyad Square in Damascus (Reuters)
Umayyad Square in Damascus (Reuters)
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Cairo May Request Extradition of Qaradawi’s Son from Abu Dhabi

Umayyad Square in Damascus (Reuters)
Umayyad Square in Damascus (Reuters)

As Lebanese authorities proceed with the deportation of Egyptian activist Abdel Rahman al-Qaradawi, the son of the late cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi, to the United Arab Emirates, an Egyptian source involved in the case told Asharq Al-Awsat that Cairo plans to formally request his extradition from Abu Dhabi once he arrives there.

Controversy has surrounded the case since Lebanon announced that the government had approved the deportation of Qaradawi to the UAE instead of Egypt, where he holds citizenship.

Former Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that citizenship is not an obstacle in extradition cases between countries, saying that a state may decide to extradite a person to another country even if they hold the nationality of a third state, as in the case of Qaradawi’s son.

According to Lebanese sources, the decision to extradite Qaradawi to the UAE is based on a warrant issued by the Council of Arab Interior Ministers. As a member of the council, Lebanon is obligated to comply with the UAE’s request, despite the absence of a direct bilateral extradition agreement between the two countries.

Additionally, the extradition decision was influenced by the fact that the charges against Qaradawi are criminal, not political, as political charges would prevent extradition and instead warrant protection under international conventions.

An Egyptian judicial source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the International Cooperation Office of Egypt’s Public Prosecutor had prepared a comprehensive file containing all rulings issued against Qaradawi to ensure that the extradition request met all legal requirements. This file was sent to Lebanese judicial authorities through official channels. However, Egypt has yet to receive a response from Lebanon, though one is expected in the coming days.

Dr. Mohammed Mahmoud Mehran, a member of the American and European societies for international law, told Asharq Al-Awsat that international law generally allows extradition when the individual is either a citizen of the requesting state, has committed a crime on its territory, or when the requesting state has a direct legal interest in the case.

As Qaradawi is an Egyptian citizen, Egypt “has the legal right to request his extradition under international law and bilateral agreements, provided all legal conditions are met,” Mehran said.

Meanwhile, Qaradawi’s lawyer, Mohammed Sablouh, confirmed plans to file an urgent appeal in Lebanese courts to prevent his client’s extradition, according to Reuters. Mehran explained that extradition laws grant the individual the right to appeal in court, while the requesting states also have the right to challenge decisions.

Mehran suggested that if Qaradawi is ultimately handed over to the UAE, it is highly likely he will later be extradited to Egypt after procedural requirements in the Emirates are fulfilled. This is due to the strong bilateral relations and close security coordination between Egypt and the UAE.

Abdel Rahman al-Qaradawi, who holds dual Egyptian and Turkish citizenship, was arrested in Lebanon on December 28 after returning from Syria. His arrest followed an Interpol red notice issued based on an in absentia ruling by an Egyptian court sentencing him to five years in prison for spreading false news, inciting violence, and terrorism. Before his arrest, Qaradawi appeared in a video filmed at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, where he made remarks considered offensive to both Egypt and the UAE.