Syria, Palestine and Iran under spotlight at Arab summit

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The draft also includes the issue of refugees and the efforts by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to alleviate the suffering of the refugees, as well as support for the host countries and for the Palestinian Authority’s budget.

The permanent representatives will also discuss developments in Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan.

Discussions on Iran’s occupation of three islands in the Arabian Gulf — the Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa — and the claimed Iranian interference in the internal affairs of the Arab countries will figure prominently on the agenda of talks.

Delegates are set to adopt a draft resolution stressing the Arab position on Turkish forces’ alleged violation of Iraqi sovereignty, a draft reaffirming the need to maintain Arab national security and continue the fight against terrorism, and a draft resolu- tion on the proposed periodic Arab-European summit.

Samih Maaytah, former Jordanian minister of information and government spokesperson, told Arab News that an Arab consensus on critical issues is a key concern of the summit.

These issues include the Syrian crisis and the need for a political solution to the war, as well as Iran’s activities in some Arab states.

“Those two files are rather controversial, as there are some countries that believe that Syrian President Bashar Assad must not have a role in any political settlement to the Syrian crisis. With regard to Iran, there are some countries that still enjoy warm relationship with Tehran, which might pose an obstacle to taking a strong position to curb Iranian expansionist ideologies,” Maaytah said.

He added that the Palestinian cause must once again be made a top priority for Arab discussions, due to the stance taken by the new US administration.