‘Divided GCC’s future bleak’

‘Pray Amir efforts bear fruition’

“I AM able to see, hear and analyze an overwhelming desire among the people of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states for unifying the ranks of these states and boosting the bonds, links and joint action among them,” columnist and the editor-in-chief of Al-Kuwaitiah daily Chancellor

wrote for daily.

“Apart from the above, I hope to see all the vital joint projects, which were declared by the leaders of the member states, being implemented in order to achieve the targeted blanket renaissance and counter all obstructions that may face them. We know that the GCC as a regional organization had gained the respect and admiration of the entire world, because it held a beautiful image of the Arabian Gulf countries, considering the fact that the latter are of a unified demography map and social fabric while their religion, customs and conventions are almost the same.

“Nevertheless, some states, motivated by their envy, are seemingly striving to harm the relations among the GCC member states by tearing apart the latter and provoking sedition within the Gulf nation.

“To achieve their destructive objectives, the foes of the GCC countries resorted to promoting the thought of terrorism and extremism among the youth in this part of the world. They aimed to brainwash them and instigate them against their own countries as well as their ruling regimes.

“One may cite the destructive manner by which certain Arab countries such as Syria, Iraq, Libya and some other Arab countries had succeeded in promoting the terrorist thought and its supporters including that of the Islamic State (IS) or DAESH.

“However, what drew my attention in this regard was the study conducted by Simon Henderson, the Director of Gulf and Energy Policy at the US-based Baker Institute, concerning the future of Arabian Gulf countries and the challenges that are currently facing them.

“In his study, Henderson said the overt dispute among the GCC member states could serve as a source of arguments concerning whether the GCC will continue in this current state. If any changes do surface, it will be mainly related to the re-demarcation of the national frontiers among the member states.

“Apart from the above, Henderson, in his study titled “The Understanding of the GCC Member States” said, “The funds can’t purchase everything.” He also said the funds can purchase a lot of things in the conservative states of the Arabian Gulf region.

“In this context, he cited that the highest tower in the world is Burj Al-Khalifa in Dubai and the world’s best airlines is the Qatar Airways.

“Henderson hinted that the boom achieved by the Gulf countries could be attributed to the flow of petrodollars into these countries.

“He explained that this happened even though the Arabian Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman had discovered oil in their territories much later compared to Iran for instance which had discovered oil in 1908. In North Iraq, oil was discovered in 1927. The first oil field that was discovered in the Arabian Gulf region was in Bahrain in 1931.

“Henderson went on to explain that Saudi Arabia, which currently has the biggest oil reserves of traditional oil in the world, had discovered its first oil field only in 1938. Its actual oil production had begun in 1941. The first oil field in Abu Dhabi, which currently can be deemed as a pioneering Emirate in the region, was discovered in 1958, but this Emirate currently possesses as much as six percent of the world oil reserve.

“However, irrespective of the volume of their hydrocarbon wealth, the Arab GCC conservative countries are distinguished by a low population rate.

“In this context, Saudi Arabia can be considered as the biggest country in the Arabian Gulf region with population amounting to 27 million people, while the smallest country in this part of the world is Qatar with a population volume of two million with only 200,000 Qataris.

“Anyways, Henderson’s study had also focused on the strength of the GCC member states, affirming that all countries throughout the world are currently looking at these countries as they had previously declared implementation of many giant projects topped by the GCC Joint Market.

“Therefore, the cohesion and unity among the GCC member states will help boost their security and stability. It will also contribute to the stability and security of their neighboring countries. This means that any dispute among the GCC countries will not be in favor of the entire Gulf region.

“Such being the case, the GCC countries will achieve the necessary reconciliation among them through mutual dialogue and an extensive schedule for fighting various types of terrorism and extremism. This will be good, particularly with the support shown for the initiative of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to solve the rifts among some of the brotherly GCC leaders.

“We pray Allah will protect His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad for his efforts aimed at maintaining the cohesion of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).”

Also:

Dr Al-Abad

“Some of the National Assembly members are currently talking about drafting a bill for criminalizing political activities and joining various political currents and groups in Kuwait, be they religious organizations such as the Muslim Brotherhood Group, the Salafist Movement and the Al-Ummah Party, or nationalistic and democratic organizations such as Kuwait Democratic Forum and the Democratic National Alliance”, columnist and former director of the Culture Department at the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters wrote for daily.

“This bill, which is still being studied by some of the nation representatives, is likely to include among other aspects such as separation between governmental actions and that of firms in which the government has an influence, particularly when conducting internal elections in those firms.

“The bill, after it is endorsed, will also force both the ministers and the MPs from addressing any of the political currents in the country or extending congratulations to them for marking any occasion.

“However, it seems that political powers in the country had not dealt seriously with the parliamentary consultations in question. This may be attributed to their conviction that these consultations and discussions will not constitute any direct danger to the local political and organizational action. These powers particularly the religious currents including the Muslim Brotherhood Group and the Salafist Movement has been dealing with this bill in a sarcastic manner.

“We concede that the application of this bill seems unrealistic under the current local, Gulf, regional and even international circumstances. We know that the entire world is currently looking at the Gulf region due to the crisis between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt.

“All of us should be careful when dealing with such signs that exploit the state of “political slump” before the bill is transformed into a valid law. They should remember that, if this happens, we all will find ourselves in the tunnel of a new political crisis.”

“Electronic gates installed around Al-Aqsa Mosque by the Zionist regime have drawn widereaching condemnation, and others are wondering if the issue truly incites fury, but taking such crucial issues lightly could spell trouble,” columnist

wrote for daily. “Head of the Palestinian Scholars Union Sheikh Muhammad Suleiman Nasrallah Al-Ferra was asked about the Islamic perspective on electronic gates fixed at the entrances to Al-Aqsa Mosque, and he answered:

“The Muslim world will not be affected in any way if the call for prayer is not made from Aqsa Mosque and it’s not detrimental to the religion if Muslims are refused entry to the mosque — as stipulated by the Israeli occupants. However, it is damaging to Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian cause by accepting to go into the mosque in submission and humiliated like a herd of animals.

“To enter Aqsa Mosque through the electronic gates is tantamount to being forced to endure our dilemma forever. This will serve the interests of the Israeli aggressors and demonstrate their dominance on the mosque or prove that Muslims accept their dominion. It will be the start of a series of concessions!

“Staying outside Aqsa Mosque and leaving it vacant will rather serve our cause and compel Muslims to do their best to liberate the mosque for prayer, with dignity and honor.

“Defying the condition and procedures of the Israeli aggressor portrays a negative image before the international community while the reality shows the aggressors seek dominance over our places of worship. Pleading for the right to pray will never be rewarded by God and could even draw divine punishment.

“The answer of Al-Feraa was welcomed by 95-year-old former Palestinian Judge Sheikh Muhammad Abo Serdana. We must believe that defending the holy places is the responsibility of each Muslim and there is no difference between the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madina or Aqsa Mosque in Palestine. We must denounce the gates of devils, knowing that Israel only aims to extend its dominance on our places of worship.”

“Fueling fires of sedition is the work of the devil and such fires will burn everyone. Gulf States have different views on regional or international political issues. This is normal, but the dispute has reached the point that countries take decisions against each other and this is an escalation of dispute,” columnist

wrote for daily. “It is also natural and sensible that some GCC countries intervene to maintain good relations among brotherly GCC States and to prevent the interference of others who want harm for us. There are positive interventions by some Islamic countries against criminals, opportunists, warlords and enemies of the Islamic religion.

“The difference between brothers is the summer cloud, as enemies of Gulf unity have been trying to turn the summer cloud into permanent storms which will destroy everyone.”

“About 25 years ago, the incumbent Iranian president and former Head of the Parliamentary Committee for Foreign Affairs Hassan Rohani told Dr Abdullah Al-Nafisi who was a member of the Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation to Iran: All of you living on the other bank of the Gulf will return to the mother nation (Persia) someday,” columnist

wrote for daily. “For this reason, any moderate attitude shown by an Iranian politician is nothing more than a change in approach to a fixed strategy. The Iranian strategy was fulfilled last year when spokesperson of the Iranian Consultative Council Ali Larijani said: The fall of Bashar Assad will mark the beginning of the end of Kuwait. Therefore, the Iranian threat is not only historical — as it’s active today and will remain active even in the future.

“The alliance between Iran and the major powers is clear. This is the content of the award-winning book titled Treacherous Alliance, which the professor of international relations at Johns Hopkins University Trita Parsi wrote regarding the secret relationship between Israel, America and Iran.

“Arab politicians are reminded the ‘seeming’ dispute between Iran and America as circulated by the media is nothing but a mask to cover up their special relations and common interests that led to the fall of Iraq and Afghanistan, not forgetting the fall of Lebanon by Hezbollah, Yemen by the Houthi rebels and Syria, which is currently under the control of Iran.

“Finally, Iran perpetrated its dirty schemes against Kuwaiti security with the so-called Abdali Cell. We do not want to comment on the members of the cell escaping. We can only say the ‘escape’ is similar to the manner in which Yasser Al-Harbi fled the country. We have warned of the Iranian threat for a long time and believe the only way to confront them is to establish a Gulf confederacy wherein the sovereignty of each country will be preserved.”

— Compiled by Zaki Taleb