Qatar Holds First Legislative Elections

A night view of Doha, Qatar. (AFP)
A night view of Doha, Qatar. (AFP)
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Qatar Holds First Legislative Elections

A night view of Doha, Qatar. (AFP)
A night view of Doha, Qatar. (AFP)

Qataris go to the polls on Saturday in the Gulf state's first legislative elections, to choose two-thirds of the advisory Shura Council.

Thirty members of the 45-seat body will be elected, while Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will continue to appoint the remaining 15 members of the Council, which will have legislative authority and approve general state policies and the budget.

The Council has no control over executive bodies setting defense, security, economic and investment policy.

Eighteen women are standing from among around 183 candidates hoping to be elected at polling stations across 30 districts in the country, which has for several years held municipal elections.

Campaigning has taken place on social media, community meetings and roadside billboards.

Qatar's deputy prime minister and foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani last month described the vote as a new "experiment" and said the Council cannot be expected from the first year to have the "full role of any parliament".

All candidates had to be approved by the interior ministry against a host of criteria, including age, character and criminal history. Candidates have also been required to register official campaign events with the ministry in advance.

Most of Qatar's 2.5 million residents are foreigners, ineligible to vote.



Saudi Crown Prince: We Stand by Gaza and Lebanon, Reject Attacks on Iran

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince: We Stand by Gaza and Lebanon, Reject Attacks on Iran

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, stressed on Monday the Kingdom’s categorical rejection of Israel’s attacks on Gaza.

He made his remarks while opening the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh.

Crown Prince Mohammed expressed solidarity with Lebanon and declared his rejection of attempts to undermine the role of the Palestinian Authority and efforts to hinder the role of humanitarian agencies in Gaza.

He condemned attempts to thwart the work of UNRWA in the Palestinian territories, while underscoring the need for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Crown Prince Mohammed also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s launch of an international coalition for supporting the two-state solution to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

He also announced his rejection of attacks on Iranian territories.

Arab and Islamic leaders arrived in Riyadh on Monday to attend the summit.

Speaking at the opening of the event, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared: “We condemn the systematic killing of Palestinians in Gaza and we reject their displacement.”

“We must work together to implement the two-state solution,” he urged, while voicing commitment to just and fair peace.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II said: “We must focus our efforts immediately on ending the Israeli siege on Gaza and ending the humanitarian catastrophe.”

“These wars must stop so that we can prevent the region from slipping into a wide-scale conflict,” he added.

“The region is enduring a tragedy that demands immediate action,” he stressed.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed his gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed for supporting the drive for countries to recognize a Palestinian state, noting that it was the foundation for achieving stability and peace.

He demanded the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 2735 that would stop the Israeli assault and allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza

He also called on the international community to impose sanctions on Israel, accusing it of committing “genocide against the Palestinian people for over a year.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for “isolating Israel on the international stage should it fail to end its attacks on Gaza and Lebanon.”

He also called for “imposing an arms and trade embargo against it.”

The solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, he stressed.

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said his country is “going through an unprecedented historic and fateful crisis.”

“Israel cannot continue with its assault on Lebanon and its people,” he demanded, saying over 3,000 people have been killed and the human losses are devastating.

Mikati urged the gatherers to continue on sending aid to Lebanon.

On the regional level, he said the greatest challenge lies in the Palestinian cause and the suffering of the Palestinian people, echoing demands for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.