Arabs to discuss multiple challenges

Even by the standards of our troubled region, Sunday’s Arab League summit in Dammam comes at a particularly testing time for the Arab world, which is mired in so many multi-faceted, interwoven conflicts that the situation looks grim. But the summit continues to be the most important forum where the Arab states can gather annually, have an open discussion about the problems and challenges facing them, and attempt to find solutions.

Saudi Arabia, the host of Sunday’s summit, has made it clear that it will push for a tough stance against that bane of the Arab world — Iranian interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries. Through its armed proxies, Tehran has a stranglehold on Arab states like Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, and continues to use these proxies to steer policy in these countries in a way that is inimical to Arab interests. The Arab world’s issues with Iran do not stop at its interference in their affairs, but also extend to Tehran’s relentless push towards nuclearisation.

The summit will be attended by 21 of the Arab League’s 22-member states. Since the beginning of the Syrian civil war in 2011, and the mass murder of innocent civilians at the hands of the Bashar Al Assad regime, Syria has been suspended from the organisation. However, events in Syria, especially the western missile strikes on centres of the regime’s chemical and biological programmes yesterday, will undoubtedly be part of the agenda.

What will not be on the agenda, however, is the Qatar crisis. Despite Doha’s attempts, the Qatar crisis — which was triggered after Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain cut ties with the Qatari government over its support for terrorism — will not be discussed. As Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir noted: “The solution of Qatar will be within the GCC.”

What will definitely make it to the discussions is the fate of occupied Jerusalem, as the United States prepares to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to the occupied city after declaring it the capital of Israel. The summit comes at a time when at least 33 Palestinians have been brutally cut down by the Israeli regime as they engaged in unarmed, peaceful protests in Gaza against the occupation regime, and against America’s ill-advised move on occupied Jerusalem. It is hoped that the summit will lead to concrete action in support of the Palestinian position on occupied Jerusalem.