Palestinian cause tops Arab summit agenda

The outcome of the Arab Summit, which was held in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, last Thursday, dominated the headlines in Arabic-language media this week

In its editorial titled ‘We will not lose hope’, Al Khaleej, the Sharjah-based Arabic daily newspaper, described the ‘Jerausalem’ Summit as historical, marking a new turn in the joint Arab action, despite turmoil and the dark picture in the Arab region. The nature of challenges facing the Arab nation requires a strong response and unified action to regain the nation’s spirit and unity as it had done many times before.

The paper said although the nation was stumbling, it would quickly stand on its feet to encounter challenges and threats. Those who are pessimistic and think the nation has fallen, have never read the history of this nation that has been subjected to invasions, wars and occupations that sometimes lasted for decades or centuries even. But the Arab region has managed to rise from the ashes.

The final communique of the ‘Jerausalem’ Summit came to confirm that a new hope grows again, breathing new life into the nation and heralding a new era of inter-Arab cooperation and action that rises to the challenges and threats facing the Arab nation, stemming from the historical fact that Arab security is inseparable.

Saudi Arabia’s Al Riyadh newspaper praised Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz for his firm stands that were clearly manifest in his speech before the Arab leaders at the 29th Arab Summit. In his speech, King Salman reiterated the kingdom’s unchanged position on the Palestinian question as the Arab nation’s first issue, and its support for the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights to establish their independent state with occupied East Jerusalem as its capital.

He also reiterated rejection of United States’ decision to transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Occupied Jerusalem, emphasising that occupied East Jerusalem is an integral part of the Occupied Territories.

The paper said this stand is not new or strange to the kingdom, which has always stood by the Palestinians — a powerful position that has been illustrated through a donation of $200 million to the Jerusalem Religious Endowments Fund and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The ‘Jerausalem’ Summit emphasised that the Palestinian cause is still the Arab nation’s central issue despite the importance of other Arab issues.

Palestinian Al Ayyam newspaper said the Arab summit reiterated that the question of Palestine is the Arab nation’s dominant issue that is given top priority over others, with an emphasis on East Jerusalem as the forever capital of the Palestinian state. This was highlighted by King Salman who said: “The Palestinian case is our priority and will remain until all the Palestinians gain their rights and Jerusalem is the capital of the state of Palestine.”

Kuwait’s Al Watan newspaper highlighted that the ‘Jerusalem’ summit came to reaffirm that the Palestinian cause has always been and still is at the top of the list of Arab priorities. The Arab leaders reiterated their supportive stand by Palestinians until they regain their legitimate rights and achieve their long-standing dream of establishing their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.