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Does Israeli Minister's Anti-Palestinian Statement Undermine Sharm el-Sheikh Understandings?

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at a news conference in Jerusalem (Reuters)
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at a news conference in Jerusalem (Reuters)
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Does Israeli Minister's Anti-Palestinian Statement Undermine Sharm el-Sheikh Understandings?

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at a news conference in Jerusalem (Reuters)
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at a news conference in Jerusalem (Reuters)

Egypt denounced the recent “inflammatory” statements of Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on the Palestinian people, saying they undermined peace efforts.

Last Sunday, Egyptian, Jordanian, Israeli, Palestinian, and US security officials and politicians met in Sharm el-Sheikh following Cairo's invitation to complete the understanding reached in Aqaba on Feb. 26.

The parties agreed on the "necessity of calm" ahead of Ramadan, and they decided to develop a mechanism to curb incitement and inflammatory statements and actions.

The mechanism must submit reports to the leaders of the five countries next April when resuming the meeting session in Sharm El-Sheikh.

Only hours after these understandings, Smotrich denied the existence of a Palestinian people or nationhood, saying there was "no such thing as Palestinians because there's no such thing as the Palestinian people."

Egypt's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ahmed Abu Zeid, described the Israeli minister's statements as "irresponsible and inflammatory," noting that the racist gestures that deny history and geography fuel anger and tension among Palestinians and the people of the free world.

Abu Zeid said such statements undermine efforts to achieve calm between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, especially ahead of Ramadan, which coincides with the Christian and Jewish holidays, all of which establish meanings of tolerance, peace, and respect for others.

An Egyptian official, who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat on condition of anonymity, considered Smotrich's statements a violation of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings.

He indicated that the US and Egypt stressed during the Sharm el-Sheikh meeting that the Tel Aviv government must maintain stability and calm, rejecting any hostile statements or actions from the far-right ministers that could further exacerbate the situation.

The source said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must control his government, warning of the consequences of unilateral Israeli actions and their impact on achieving calm.

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Houthis in Yemen Strip their Head of Govt of his Powers

The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
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Houthis in Yemen Strip their Head of Govt of his Powers

The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)

The Iran-backed Houthi militias have prevented their so-called prime minister, Ahmed al-Rahwi, from naming the head of his office.

The Houthis have instead forced him to appoint a person of their choosing against his wishes, revealed informed sources in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa.

The Houthis are attempting to strip al-Rahwi, who was named as head of the militias’ new government, of his powers, making his appointment simply a cover for imposing their agenda and favoring Houthis who are descended of the line of their leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi.

The sources revealed that al-Rahwi had headed to the government headquarters with Rabih al-Mehdi, the director of the office of his predecessor. Mehdi hails from the Abyan province that is held by the legitimate government.

Al-Rahwi was seeking to keep al-Mehdi in his post. However, a leading Houthi member, Mohammed Qassem al-Kabisi, who used to occupy the position of government secretary, barred him from making the appointment.

Kabisi even prevented al-Mehdi from entering his office, resulting in an argument with al-Rahwi.

Kabisi informed al-Rahwi that he had no authority in naming the head of his office, saying that he does instead.

Al-Rahwi turned to the Houthis’ so-called ruling high political council to resolve the dispute and was informed that he should accept Kabisi as head of his office despite his objection.

A decree was issued days later naming Kabisi to the post.

He will effectively hold absolute power in government, while al-Rahwi will simply play a figurative role and only be needed to approve decisions and procedures taken by the Houthi leadership, joining other ministers who have no real duties.

The Houthis have formed a new government that will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor in keeping actual power to the militias themselves.

The new lineup includes a pro-Houthi figure, with no diplomatic background or experience, who was named foreign minister, replacing leading General People's Congress member Hisham Sharaf.

The appointment only fueled claims that the Houthis were seeking to eliminate their partners from rule. Al-Rahwi himself had no say in the lineup.

The Houthis announced the formation of their government on August 12. It met on August 17 to discuss its program, referred it to parliament the same day and by the next morning, an announcement was made that it was approved with no amendments or objections.

The incident with al-Rahwi has fueled speculation that the coming period will witness more struggles for power among the Houthis and their partners, whom they are trying to keep out of rule.

Observers noted that Kabisi is the son of a top Houthi leader. Qassem al-Kabisi is one of the founders of the group and is close to their leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi.

The senior Houthi officials believe they have the right to represent the Houthis in rule since they are its founders and oldest members.