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Israeli police patrol a street in the Muslim quarter in Jerusalem's Old City, on October 4, 2015, as Israel took a rare and drastic step of barring Palestinians from the Old City as tensions mounted following attacks that killed two Israelis and wounded a child. The restrictions will be in place for two days, with only Israelis, tourists, residents of the area, business owners and students allowed. Worship at the sensitive Al-Aqsa mosque compound will be restricted to Old City residents and Arab Israelis, and limited to men aged 50 and above. AFP PHOTO / THOMAS COEX Image Credit: AFP

Iran is seeking to utilise all means possible in order to issue threats against the Arab world, with the most recent one targeting Saudi Arabia regarding the Haj stampede, said UAE’s Al Bayan.

“Despite the region’s endeavours to contain Iran due to a shared religion, geography and history, it seems clear that Iran will not stop at anything to threaten the region’s security and stability. Iran’s behaviour is one that can lead its own people to wars and economic and political losses. Such harm will befall its own people before those of the Arab world. The UAE stressed time and time again that the region is not out to make enemies and all it wants is stability and security for the people. We hope that a day will come in which all the nations can use all their wealth for the benefit of its people, instead of some wasting their resources on conflicts and for the purpose of threatening the region.”

Escalating tensions in Saudi Arabia’s relations with Iran are a warning sign that the situation in the region will get markedly worse unless both countries work to put these relations in a context governed by standard diplomatic protocols, said Pan-Arab paper Asharq Al Awsat. “The Iranian nuclear agreement has led to increased concerns from Arab countries, as it has ended economic and military sanctions that were imposed against Tehran. This has intensified disputes between Arab countries and Iran and has also worsened the bickering that exists in the media and in diplomatic circles. The surge in tension calls for improving means of communication — not the opposite. The reasons and motives behind this tension must be understood. Otherwise, we can expect regional disputes ... to continue.”

The Sultanate’s viewpoint on the agony of the Palestinians in particular has won it many admirers, said the Oman Tribune. “Though the Israelis have not heeded their desire for the establishment of a free Palestinian state that would be viable and allow its citizens to live in peace and enjoy the fruits of progress, all agree with the Omani view that talks alone can end the differences. But then it looks like the world is at the moment not interested in the issue. The US, after the failure of nine months of Palestinian-Israeli talks, has become thoroughly indifferent to it. This nonchalance must end.”

The recognition of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations would have important political implications, because Israel cannot continue to occupy a UN member state, said the Jordan Times.

“As long as Palestine is not recognised as a full UN member country, Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem will continue, until it is forced out one way or another. Having the Palestinian flag flutter over UN headquarters could still be seen as a forceful step in the direction of reaching the two-state solution. But the Palestinians’ short-lived joy will be just that as long as the UN falls short of granting them the right of every human being on earth: A state of their own where they can live free from occupation. Spirits are already inflamed due to repeated Israeli violations of Palestinians’ rights — political, economic and religious — and the recent flare-up and violence in the confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians is an indication of where things will be going if injustice prevails.”