Self-help
Qatar hosts emergency Arab-Islamic Summit after Israeli strike in Doha
Almost a week after the Israeli strike on Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar is hosting an emergency Arab-Islamic summit on Monday. As part of preparations for the summit, a foreign ministers’ meeting will be held on Sunday, followed by the gathering of heads of state on Monday. Observers say Qatar has a historic opportunity to move beyond mere condemnations of Israeli actions and shape a joint narrative. Some experts argue that everyone is now looking toward Qatar and other regional countries to see what options they put forward against Israel. Jaber Al-Harami, editor-in-chief of the Qatari newspaper Al-Sharq, says many expectations are attached to this summit, and if no practical steps are taken against Israel, the meeting will prove meaningless. He added that the conference should not remain limited to condemnations, but rather show the world that a new regional mindset is emerging to confront Israel’s challenge. He noted that after the Israeli attack, Arab nationalism has re-emerged and is being perceived not only as an assault on Qatar but on all Arab nations. Al-Harami further said that even Israel’s allies within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation did not refrain from condemning it, which is why this Arab summit could help strengthen the anti-Israel narrative at the international level. Arab States Must Seize the Historic Opportunity Al-Harami emphasized that Arab and Islamic countries must seize this “historic opportunity,” otherwise they may never get it again. During the summit, discussions will be held on a draft resolution concerning last Tuesday’s Israeli attack, which will be finalized at the Arab and Islamic foreign ministers’ meeting on Sunday. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari stressed in a statement that convening this Arab-Islamic summit carries multiple meanings and implications, as it reflects Arab and Islamic solidarity with Qatar. He said the summit would serve as a unified voice against “Israel’s cowardly and aggressive actions.” Lebanese author and political researcher Mahmoud Alloush believes that since the October 7, 2023 attack, Israel has become a major threat to regional peace and security. This fact is also clear to Arab states. Therefore, he said, they need to formulate a collective policy that enables them to exert pressure on Israel. He expressed hope that the summit would produce a strong political stance, showing solidarity with Qatar and condemning Israel. However, he stressed that a collective narrative alone would not be enough to face the challenges posed by Israel. According to him, there are many measures Arab and Islamic states can take to send Israel a “strong message.” He suggested that countries maintaining diplomatic and economic ties with Israel could signal a review of those relations. Alloush argued that the region stands at an important historical turning point, requiring decisive action to confront the challenges posed by Israel. Arabs Have Options Al-Harami emphasized that Arabs do have options, but they require genuine determination. He said Arab states could assert their importance by reassessing their political and economic relations with Israel and by exerting pressure on its Western allies and partners. He highlighted that Gulf states supply 40 percent of the world’s oil needs, which gives them special leverage. Al-Harami also suggested that a strategy to “tighten the noose” on Israel through international courts and organizations could be effective. On the question of whether Qatar might abandon its mediation role between Hamas and Israel, Al-Harami said this was a permanent element of Qatar’s policy and constitution. He noted that rather than ending mediation, Doha would continue its diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the war in Gaza and facilitate humanitarian aid delivery. The Doha summit will take place following a meeting in Washington between Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, U.S. President Donald Trump, and several senior administration officials. That meeting was described as “positive,” with discussions covering Doha’s future role as a mediator in the region as well as defense cooperation between Qatar and the United States.
By Real contentabout a year ago in Chapters
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There is a weight heavier than grief .. The weight of shame you were never meant to carry. After the dust of my divorce had settled and I’d begun to find my footing, I noticed something lurking beneath my progress. It wasn’t sadness. It wasn’t fear.
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