‘Palestine still top Arab cause’

Speaker, FM stand up for issue

“IT IS Kuwait’s firm and principled position to support the Palestinian people to obtain their legitimate rights that was shown at the extraordinary session of the Arab League Council that was recently held at the ministerial level, and the position of the Kuwaiti Parliament during the emergency conference of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union that was held in Rabat to discuss the volatile situation in Jerusalem,” columnist Ali Mohammad Al-Fairouz wrote for Al-Rai daily.

“As a matter of fact, the speech that was given by the Kuwaiti First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled and the National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim at different Arab venues, has indeed touched on the Arab and Muslim emotions everywhere because the two speeches reflect the true emotions and intentions of the State of Kuwait towards the Arab first cause.

“However, this is a message from the Kuwaiti government and the National Assembly to the entire world that the Palestinian cause shall remain our first cause throughout the ages as long as the occupying Zionist entity is our foe and as such the government and people of Kuwait shall not rest until the Palestinians obtain their legitimate rights.

“In his speech, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled has called on the international community to shoulder its responsibility to bring to an end the criminal Zionist practices and violations committed in the city of Jerusalem.

“The speech is a confirmation of the support of the State of Kuwait towards supporting the Palestinian people which shall remain ingrained and principled and this means all of us must hasten to discuss the recent Israeli practices and violations in the City of Jerusalem in general and the AlAqsa Holy Mosque in particular.

“He went on to say the State of Kuwait vehemently condemns and denounces the oppressive Zionist practices in addition to all its prejudicial security actions imposed by the Zionist occupying power on the periphery of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

“He appealed to the international community to bring to an end the criminal practices and violations against the religious places and take the firm action against all Israeli violations in City of Jerusalem through the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions Nos. 476, 478 and 2334 related to the Palestinian cause.

“In the meantime, the State of Kuwait also calls on Israel to abide by the international treaties and agreements in general and Geneva Treaty of 1949 in particular.

“The Speaker of Kuwait’s National Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanim in his historic speech during the Arab Parliamentary Union conference called for assisting the State of Palestine.

“He hinted the Palestinian cause and the Al-Aqsa Mosque – the first Qibla of the Muslims and the third Holy Mosque, shall remain the first Arab cause. He went on to say the State of Kuwait will not succumb to the defeatist projects related to the Palestinian cause.

“But unfortunately, he said, those who are currently involved in promoting the defeatist projects are casting doubts on the feasibility of the conferences and the meetings that might be held to discuss the Palestinian cause and the independent Palestinian State.

“Meanwhile, Al-Ghanim said those who are ‘supporting’ capitulation should go to hell and hell only, but we will not allow them to frustrate us nor to promote the capitulation among us because we are determined to deal with many diplomatic and political dues and international and continental conferences will be held to keep alive the Palestinian cause through ‘international awareness’.

“Yes, what is said by Speaker Al-Ghanim and Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled is the unified government message to the entire world to make the Palestine cause the main subject for all Muslims everywhere.

“This cause must grip the mind of humanity at all international forums, irrespective of the attempts by the Zionist entity to ignore it. In the meantime, this entity must keep in mind that our dignity and holy places shall remain above all other considerations.

“Here, we would like to take the opportunity and send a message of solidarity to our brothers in Palestine to support their steadfastness in the face of the Zionist enemy and their efforts to prevent the Zionists from violating the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque.

“In conclusion, we thank Speaker Al-Ghanim and Minister Al-Khaled for their bold and historical attitudes against the Zionist entity’s arrogance and against its violation and illegitimate practices in the occupied Palestinian territories. Long Live Palestine as a free country. God willing we will be victorious.”

Al-Fairouz

“The US continues to impose a lot of sanctions on Iran and as we have seen these sanctions are steadily increasing on a daily basis,” columnist Mohammad Hazza’a Al-Mutairi wrote for Al-Qabas daily.

“In spite of the above, these sanctions will not suffocate Iran because Tehran is accustomed to such method. However, it is obvious these sanctions are aimed at dealing a blow to the nuclear deal that was earlier concluded between Iran and the 5+1 nations since the US President Donald Trump has repeatedly labeled this as a ‘bad’ deal.

“However, it is also obvious that the US administration does not have the full right to nullify this deal for the time being because the deal in question was concluded by various parties including the other great powers in the world, and not just between Washington and Tehran.

“Such being the case it will be difficult for the US administration since there is no easy escape from abiding by the deal unless the other parties are convinced of its futility and failure.

“Hence, we have observed how the US was striving to derail the deal from day one of Donald Trump in office at the White House to prevent Iran from benefiting economically as a result of this deal since it shall negatively reflect on its influence in the Middle East region.

“And for this reason the White House is currently working hand in hand with the US Congress to enact a new legislation to impose more complicated sanctions on Iran and this US attitude has angered Iran and this was evident through the decision taken recently by the Iranian Parliament to increase financing for the Iranian ballistic missiles program.

“By doing so Iran will certainly violate the terms of the deal in question in retaliation to US sanctions that were recently imposed on Tehran. In this context, we cite a statement that was issued recently by the Iranian president Hassan Rouhani who was quoted as saying ‘unless Washington stops its behavior against Tehran, Iran will have no choice but to not abide by the nuclear deal’.

“It is needless to say this statement is a trump card in the hands of the US President who was waiting for the same impatiently to show to the entire world that he was right when he said Iran will not abide by the terms and conditions of the nuclear deal.

“The recent Iranian missile tests were totally criticized by Europe and some parties to the nuclear deal including France have vehemently denounced and condemned these tests.

“The European Union (EU) has also denounced and condemned the Iranian missiles tests and the issue has been complicated following a statement that was issued recently by the Iranian Atomic Energy Commission threatening that Iran is likely to resume its uranium enrichment program at a high level in just five days if the US does not abide by the nuclear deal.”

“Allah Almighty ordered the sacrifice of Eid Al-Adha in commemoration of the attitude of Prophet Ibrahim (Peace Be Upon Him), when he migrated, leaving his sheep and family behind to worship Allah,” columnist Dr Areej Al-Senen wrote for Al-Rai daily.

“Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) prayed to Allah to bless him with a son and Allah responded to his prayer blessing him with Prophet Ismail (PBUH). Later, Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) had a dream where he saw himself slaughtering his only son. He knew it is an order from Allah so he informed his son and the latter was submissive to the orders of Allah. Both Ibrahim and Ismail (PBUH) put the desire of Allah above all and they head out to execute the orders. By the time Ibrahim (PBUH) held the knife to cut his son’s throat, Allah sent them a sheep from Heaven as a sacrifice and reward as they obeyed the commands.

“The sacrifice of Eid Al-Adha has some conditions such as the sacrifice should be a camel, cow, buffalo, sheep or goat. It should reach the age suitable for slaughtering. If the sacrifice is a camel, it should at least be five years old. The sacrifice must be healthy and is not suffering from disabilities. It must be slaughtered in a gentle manner and the owner must slaughter it if he knows how to do so, otherwise, he is free to authorize anyone to do it on his behalf.

“The skin of the sacrifice must not be removed before it is completely dead and shows no sign of life. The sacrifice is divided into three parts — one for the owner and his family, another part for his relatives and friends, and the third part for the poor and the needy.

“The sacrifice can be done in favor of a dead man if he requested so before his death. Others consider it acceptable in all cases even if the dead did not request it.

“The sacrifice can be transferred to other countries if the people there need it more. The sacrifice is a Sunna according to most of scholars.”

“It might blow your mind when I say that I personally think the area of Kuwait is bigger than that of China and that the population of Kuwait is bigger than that of China,” Yousef Abdulkareem Al-Zinkawi wrote for Al-Seyassah daily.

“However, the truth is we are only 0.3 percent of the population of China and the area of Kuwait is just a mere 0.2 percent of the total area of China.

“What a comparison! However, one wonders how a country such as ours which is small in area and population has its people all over the map? Even when you accidentally happen to go to the Amazon forests, you might see one of our own. Don’t rule out the fact that we love to travel a lot. As for the Chinese, despite their huge population, you rarely meet them.

“If we coincidentally meet any Kuwaiti anywhere around the world, how can we be convinced by the fact that the Kuwaiti population including both citizens and expatriates has exceeded four million? Who says?

“That’s why I said there is a mistake in the statistics — either the population of Kuwait is way above four million or the population of China is way below one billion.”

“It is said that feelings are more than meanings. This is what I feel now as I am trying to write a lamentation for my departed son Fahd who was martyred with his friend and brother, Dr Waleed AliAli, while they were on their last humanitarian mission,” columnist Abdulmuhssen Al-Husaini wrote for Al-Shahed daily.

“Words fade and phases do not match the good deeds that made up your personality and the personality of your fellow martyr, Dr Waleed Al-Ali. This is not the testimony of a loving father. It is the testimony of thousands who took part in your funeral and thousands who rushed to our Diwaniya in Nuzha and the Diwan of Al-Ali at Hateen.

“However above all, HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah expressed meaningful words when he said, ‘I consider those martyrs as my own sons. Their martyrdom is a decoration put on my chest. You deserve to be congratulated, not to be consoled.’

“The graveyard was crowded with consolers led by National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim. The consolers included a large number of GCC citizens from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The teacher at Al-Madina Al-Munawara University, Dr Abdulrazaq Al-Badr, was keen on attending condolences. Moreover, he conducted the funeral prayers.

“All sectors and classes of Kuwaiti people participated in the funeral, mourning the departure of the two martyrs of Kuwait who scarified their souls to keep the word of Islam high and highlight the humanitarian role of Kuwait represented in the great humanitarian role of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah.

“I pray to Allah to accept Waleed Al-Ali and Fahd AlHusaini as martyrs and reward them in Paradise. I pray to Him to forgive their sins and show them His mercy. We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.”

“The Council of Ministers recently decided to make a move on the issue of expatriates hired specifically in government sector and frivolous approval of stupendous allowances by some senior officials who publicly or silently appointed those expatriates to ordinary administrative positions,” Waleed Abdullah Al-Ghanim wrote for Al-Jarida daily.

“As per information gathered, the move was never part of the government vision for employment or State’s policy for the welfare of citizens. It was not about implementing the development plan, the financial hub or Kuwait’s 2035 fable, which we are fed up listening to. The step was taken solely to “prevent parliamentary escalation…” (Al-Qabas, 21/8/2017).

“Any government that takes action based on reaction is weak and lacks vision, and it’s incapable of initiatives. A government that cannot handle issues cannot see the path, and it’s ignorant of the direction the vehicle is taking.”

— Compiled by Zaki Taleb