Arab Summit in Bahrain Proposes Timetable for Palestinian Statehood, Calls for UN Forces in Gaza
At the Bahrain Summit, Arab leaders endorsed UN peacekeepers for Palestine, pushed for an international conference, and set a timeline for establishing a sovereign Palestinian state
The leaders of the Arab countries called for “the deployment of international protection and peacekeeping forces of the United Nations in the occupied Palestinian territories until the two-state solution is implemented “during the 33rd Arab Summit meeting on Thursday evening in the Bahraini capital, Manama.
In a statement called the “Bahrain Declaration,” the Arab leaders also supported the call to hold an international peace conference and to take irreversible steps to implement the two-state solution by the Arab Peace Initiative and the resolutions of international legitimacy to establish an independent, sovereign Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and accepting its membership in the United Nations as an independent, fully sovereign state like any other country in the world.”
The leaders also called for “setting a time limit for the political process and issuing a Security Council resolution under Chapter Seven to establish an independent, sovereign, viable Palestinian state with the continuous territory, on the lines of June 4, 1967, and ending any occupation presence on its land while holding Israel responsible for the destruction of cities and civilian facilities in the Gaza Strip”.
The statement, which the leaders of the Arab countries signed, also called on “Israel to stop all its illegal measures that violate the rights of the Palestinian people and undermine the two-state solution and the chances of achieving just and comprehensive peace in the region, including building and expanding settlements, confiscating Palestinian lands, and displacing Palestinians from their homes.”
The Manama Declaration also stated: “We express deep concern about the recent military escalation in the region and the seriousness of its repercussions on regional security and stability. We call on all parties to exercise restraint and spare the region and its people from the dangers of war and increased tension. We call on the UN Security Council to assume responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. And work to implement its decisions related to the permanent cease-fire in Gaza and prevent the crisis from worsening and the expansion of the war in the Middle East region.”
The statement also spoke about the fact that “the Palestine Liberation Organization is the only legitimate representative of the Palestinian people,” ignoring Hamas and all other movements in Palestine. At the same time, the statement also called on “all Palestinian factions to join under the umbrella of the Liberation Organization.”
Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, who was present as a guest of honor at the summit, said in his speech, “The war in Gaza is an open wound that may cause infection throughout the entire region. Of course, the heinous terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7 cannot be justified.”
He added in the speech, which was broadcast live on air, “I reiterate the call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and collective punishment of the Palestinian people cannot be justified. … Any attack on Rafah cannot be accepted. It would cause another wave of pain and misery while “We need a wave of life-saving aid.”
The King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, said in his speech, “The Kingdom of Bahrain is advancing a number of initiatives to contribute to serving the core issues of stability and development in the region, the first of which is the call for an international conference for peace in the Middle East, in addition to supporting full recognition of the State of Palestine and accepting its membership in the United Nations, and a proposal Specializing in providing educational and health services to those affected by conflicts and disputes in the region.
Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, said during the summit, “The League of Arab States calls on all countries to support South Africa in the lawsuit in the International Court of Justice against Israel.”
Zaki added, “Egypt supported this lawsuit, and it is the first country to conclude a peace agreement with Israel; Tel Aviv must read this seriously.”
Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, said in a press conference after the summit that “the peace conference can be held, as Spain and Europe support this proposal, and the Arab countries now all support this proposal as well.”
“Talk about the UN forces’ proposal must take place after the cease-fire,” Aboul Gheit added. He continued, “I see that the declaration of a Palestinian state is close… and very close.”
At the same conference, Dr. Abdul Latif Al-Zayani, Bahraini foreign minister, said, “All Arab foreign ministers will move to persuade countries to recognize Palestine, and this is what the Arab leaders agreed upon.”
Al-Zayani added, “We invited the secretary-general of the United Nations to this summit, and there are representatives from the five permanent members of the Security Council, all of whom attended the summit to know the Arab position on what is happening and to form a pressure card on Israel to begin the path of a two-state solution.”
The 33rd Arab Summit, unlike previous summits, did not attack Iran but instead asked it to sit at the dialogue table with the UAE regarding the “three islands” occupied by Iran, while Iran’s name was not linked to any armed or terrorist militias, whether in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, or Iraq.
Hossam Zaki told the media that “the changes in the policy of the Gulf states towards Iran and Turkey have changed the discourse of the Arab League towards these two countries” about “the Saudi-Iranian reconciliation that took place last year under Chinese sponsorship.”
Hamas will not have a role in the future. This was clear at the Arab Summit. They did not recognize Hamas, but we must not blame Hamas only for the events of October 7.
Mohammed Al-Tarifi, a Saudi political analyst, told The Media Line, “We expect from the conference that the King of Bahrain called for so much that perhaps the world will agree for the first time on a timetable for implementing the two-state solution.”
He said, “If the United States participates in this conference, it will certainly be successful. There are more than 30,000 dead so far, which is unacceptable.” He continued, “Hamas will not have a role in the future. This was clear at the Arab Summit. They did not recognize Hamas, but we must not blame Hamas only for the events of October 7.”
Khaled Al-Nami, a journalist specializing in Arab affairs, told The Media Line, “This Arab summit was the most attended in several years, and it also witnessed the highest level of attendance.”
He added, “Most Arab leaders were keen to attend this summit because more than half of its agendas discussed the current events in Palestine and because it was the first Arab summit after October 2023.”
He continued, “The Manama Declaration, which was issued with 20 points, 10 of which were on the Palestinian issue. … There is great Arab consensus on the necessity of stopping the massacres that are occurring in the Gaza Strip.”
