Latest news with #HossamZaki
Gulf Today
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Arab League Council rejects changes to Ibrahimi Mosque status
The Arab League Council has reaffirmed its complete rejection of any attempts to alter the current status of the Ibrahimi Mosque and its surroundings in the Old City of Hebron, including efforts to restrict access, silence the call to prayer, desecrate the site, alter its features, or separate it from its Palestinian context. The council held Israeli forces fully responsible for these violations. The council stressed the importance of upholding full Palestinian sovereignty over the mosque and its vicinity, describing it as an Islamic endowment administered by the Palestinian Ministry of Islamic Endowments. It warned that Israeli attempts to Judaise the site are part of broader efforts to impose control, calling on the international community to uphold and implement its resolutions. This came in a statement on the Israeli government plans to revoke Hebron municipality's authority over the Ibrahimi Mosque and its surroundings in the Old City, issued at the conclusion of an extraordinary session of the council at the level of permanent representatives. The meeting was chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, at the request of the State of Palestine and with the support of member states. Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, and permanent ambassadors of member states were present. The council reaffirmed the 2017 UNESCO decision to include the Ibrahimi Mosque and the Old City of Hebron on the list of World Heritage in Danger, stating that current developments constitute a clear violation of this ruling. The council reiterated that Israel holds no sovereignty over Palestinian land and heritage sites. It warned that the illegal Israeli plan marks an unprecedented escalation aimed at altering the original identity of the site, erasing the authentic heritage of the Palestinian people, and undermining their exclusive sovereignty. It stressed that such actions would have grave consequences for all religious sanctities and regional stability. The council also called for compliance with the 1997 agreement signed between the Palestine Liberation Organisation and Israel, which stipulates that the administration of the Ibrahimi Mosque remains under the authority of Hebron Municipality. It condemned all Israeli practices aimed at exerting full control over large parts of Hebron and the Ibrahimi Mosque, implementing colonial changes to the historical and legal reality, and preventing Palestinian residents from accessing the site. It urged the United Nations Secretary-General to take effective measures to protect civilians in Hebron. The council emphasised the need to dispatch an urgent monitoring mission to the city in line with previous decisions of the World Heritage Committee, to assess the severity of these developments. It also called for renewed diplomatic efforts to monitor and document Israeli violations in Hebron, particularly at the Ibrahimi Mosque. Furthermore, the council urged the UN Special Rapporteurs on freedom of religion and human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories to document these violations. It also requested Arab League missions and councils of Arab ambassadors to convey the contents of the resolution to their host capitals. WAM
Dubai Eye
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Dubai Eye
Arab League Council rejects changes to Ibrahimi Mosque status
The Arab League Council has reaffirmed its complete rejection of any attempts to alter the current status of the Ibrahimi Mosque and its surroundings in the Old City of Hebron. It cited reported efforts to restrict access, silence the call to prayer, alter its features or disconnect it from its Palestinian context. The council held Israeli forces responsible for what it described as violations in this regard. The council emphasized the importance of maintaining Palestinian administrative authority over the mosque and its vicinity, referring to it as an Islamic endowment overseen by the Palestinian Ministry of Islamic Endowments. It warned that Israeli actions at the site, which it characterized as attempts to assert control, are part of broader efforts to reshape the area. The council called on the international community to uphold and enforce relevant international resolutions. The statement was issued in response to reported Israeli government plans to revoke the Hebron municipality's authority over the Ibrahimi Mosque and its surrounding area. The statement was released at the conclusion of a session of the council at the level of permanent representatives. The meeting was chaired by Jordan, at the request of the State of Palestine and with the support of other member states. Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, along with permanent ambassadors from member states, were in attendance. The council reiterated its support for the 2017 UNESCO decision that listed the Ibrahimi Mosque and the Old City of Hebron as World Heritage in Danger, stating that recent developments appear to contravene this designation. It also stated that Israel does not possess sovereignty over Palestinian territories and heritage sites, warning that the Israeli plan represents a significant escalation that could alter the historical identity of the site and affect Palestinian cultural heritage. The council further warned of potential consequences for religious sites and regional stability. The council called for adherence to the 1997 agreement signed between the Palestine Liberation Organisation and Israel, which provides that the administration of the Ibrahimi Mosque remains under the authority of the Hebron Municipality. It condemned Israeli measures aimed at increasing control over parts of Hebron and the mosque, which the council said change the historical and legal status of the area and restrict Palestinian access. It urged the United Nations Secretary-General to take effective measures to ensure civilian protection in Hebron. The council also stressed the need to send an urgent monitoring mission to Hebron, in line with previous decisions of the World Heritage Committee, to evaluate the situation on the ground. It called for renewed diplomatic efforts to document and monitor developments in and around the Ibrahimi Mosque. Additionally, the council urged the UN Special Rapporteurs on freedom of religion and human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories to investigate and report on the situation. It also requested that Arab League missions and councils of Arab ambassadors communicate the contents of the resolution to their host governments.
Middle East
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Middle East
OPEN// Ambassador Hossam Zaki: Towards a peaceful and stable Middle East
CAIRO, July 16 (MENA) - Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League Hossam Zaki said that throughout the Middle East, pundits and public alike are wondering how the changes that the region is witnessing may affect the fragile existing balance of power and whether they can open the door, finally, for an era of peaceful co-existence and prosperity. It is well established that the strategic weight of our region is not confined to politics or security. It also lies in its increasingly pivotal role in the global economy, Key maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal, serve as vital arteries of global trade and energy supplies, Zaki said in an opinion piece published by The National UAE newspaper. At the same time, many Arab Gulf states are investing heavily in emerging industries such as renewable energy and advanced technologies. It is clear that bringing peace and stability to the Middle East is no longer a regional aspiration, but a global imperative intertwined with international prosperity, he added. For the Arab League, a new strategic reality in the Middle East can only come about when a true vision for peace is implemented. The vision we have in mind is one based on the two-state solution: restoration of Palestinian rights for independence and dignity, followed by the implementation of the engagement of peace outlined in the Arab Peace Initiative, thus opening the door for an era of true peace and stability in the region, Zaki said. But regional security has been viewed differently by various parties in the region. For the Arabs, based on Arab Summit resolutions, the notion of regional security has always been based on five major pillars: namely, an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict and the emergence of an independent contiguous Palestine, respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of states, the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region, relentless combating of terrorism and the preservation of nation states, and security guarantees for all and shared interests as applicable, he added. From an Arab perspective, while all these elements are essential for reaching a viable and sustainable formula for regional security, we view this equation as a win-win for all parties. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same about the perspective offered by other parties in our region, such as Israel, Zaki pointed out. For years, and in particular after the 1993 Oslo accords, the concept of regional security for Israel was based primarily on achieving military and security superiority while 'postponing indefinitely' any viable solution for the Palestinian question and without producing any real vision for achieving just and comprehensive peace, Zaki said. Since October 7, 2023, it appears that 'postponing indefinitely' a solution to the Palestinian question was replaced by 'eliminating' it altogether, he added. Driven by its extreme right-wing forces and its advancement in the past two decades, such a vision is a considerable impediment for peace and prosperity in the region. Enabling those forces to continue on such a path is nothing but a recipe for continued conflict and instability. Such a zero-sum equation with no room for a win-win formula is no salvation for our region and certainly meets no aspiration for peaceful co-existence in it, Zaki said. At the same time, achieving a sustainable peace requires addressing broader geopolitical dynamics, particularly those involving Iran. Over the past few years, several Arab countries have taken steps towards de-escalation and restoring dialogue with Tehran, aiming to establish a framework of mutual respect and non-interference, Zaki added. This approach must be preserved and reinforced, as it offers the potential to reduce tensions and prevent wider regional confrontation, he said. I acknowledge that in my numerous encounters throughout the Arab world, and in particular after witnessing the horrors committed by Israel in Gaza through 21 months of genocidal war, I often reach the unhappy conclusion that many Arabs, in particular the youth, have ceased to believe that peace will be the order of the day in our region in the foreseeable future and that it is somehow condemned to perpetual instability and turmoil. The brief moments of peace of the 1990s seem like such distant memories, Zaki added. All powerful players, in the region and outside it, should try and change such desperate views, if we are to seek a better and more prosperous future for the coming generations. To my understanding, a number of Arab countries who play a major role in the region have expressed readiness to engage in meaningful discussions on the matter, Zaki said. However, in the absence of an Israeli willingness to engage on a viable path for peace, it can be an exercise in futility. The hope remains that an active and motivated US president may intervene to tip the balance not only for the sake of morality and law, but also for shared interests and a win-for-all formula which addresses the concerns of all parties, he concluded. (MENA) M A A/R G E
Middle East
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Middle East
OPEN// Hossam Zaki: MidEast transformations herald new era of peaceful coexistence, shared prosperity
CAIRO, July 15 (MENA) - Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League Hossam Zaki said that throughout the Middle East, pundits and public alike are wondering how the changes that the region is witnessing may affect the fragile existing balance of power and whether they can open the door, finally, for an era of peaceful co-existence and prosperity. It is well established that the strategic weight of our region is not confined to politics or security. It also lies in its increasingly pivotal role in the global economy, Key maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal, serve as vital arteries of global trade and energy supplies, Zaki said in an opinion piece published by The National UAE newspaper. At the same time, many Arab Gulf states are investing heavily in emerging industries such as renewable energy and advanced technologies. It is clear that bringing peace and stability to the Middle East is no longer a regional aspiration, but a global imperative intertwined with international prosperity, he added. For the Arab League, a new strategic reality in the Middle East can only come about when a true vision for peace is implemented. The vision we have in mind is one based on the two-state solution: restoration of Palestinian rights for independence and dignity, followed by the implementation of the engagement of peace outlined in the Arab Peace Initiative, thus opening the door for an era of true peace and stability in the region, Zaki said. But regional security has been viewed differently by various parties in the region. For the Arabs, based on Arab Summit resolutions, the notion of regional security has always been based on five major pillars: namely, an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict and the emergence of an independent contiguous Palestine, respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of states, the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region, relentless combating of terrorism and the preservation of nation states, and security guarantees for all and shared interests as applicable, he added. From an Arab perspective, while all these elements are essential for reaching a viable and sustainable formula for regional security, we view this equation as a win-win for all parties. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same about the perspective offered by other parties in our region, such as Israel, Zaki pointed out. For years, and in particular after the 1993 Oslo accords, the concept of regional security for Israel was based primarily on achieving military and security superiority while 'postponing indefinitely' any viable solution for the Palestinian question and without producing any real vision for achieving just and comprehensive peace, Zaki said. Since October 7, 2023, it appears that 'postponing indefinitely' a solution to the Palestinian question was replaced by 'eliminating' it altogether, he added. Driven by its extreme right-wing forces and its advancement in the past two decades, such a vision is a considerable impediment for peace and prosperity in the region. Enabling those forces to continue on such a path is nothing but a recipe for continued conflict and instability. Such a zero-sum equation with no room for a win-win formula is no salvation for our region and certainly meets no aspiration for peaceful co-existence in it, Zaki said. At the same time, achieving a sustainable peace requires addressing broader geopolitical dynamics, particularly those involving Iran. Over the past few years, several Arab countries have taken steps towards de-escalation and restoring dialogue with Tehran, aiming to establish a framework of mutual respect and non-interference, Zaki added. This approach must be preserved and reinforced, as it offers the potential to reduce tensions and prevent wider regional confrontation, he said. I acknowledge that in my numerous encounters throughout the Arab world, and in particular after witnessing the horrors committed by Israel in Gaza through 21 months of genocidal war, I often reach the unhappy conclusion that many Arabs, in particular the youth, have ceased to believe that peace will be the order of the day in our region in the foreseeable future and that it is somehow condemned to perpetual instability and turmoil. The brief moments of peace of the 1990s seem like such distant memories, Zaki added. All powerful players, in the region and outside it, should try and change such desperate views, if we are to seek a better and more prosperous future for the coming generations. To my understanding, a number of Arab countries who play a major role in the region have expressed readiness to engage in meaningful discussions on the matter, Zaki said. However, in the absence of an Israeli willingness to engage on a viable path for peace, it can be an exercise in futility. The hope remains that an active and motivated US president may intervene to tip the balance not only for the sake of morality and law, but also for shared interests and a win-for-all formula which addresses the concerns of all parties, he concluded. (MENA) M A A/R G E
Morocco World
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Arab League Believes in Two-State Solution's Ability to Bring Regional Peace
Rabat – Hossam Zaki, the Assistant Secretary General of the Arab League, said on Tuesday in Rabat that the two-state solution could bring regional peace to the Middle East. 'We still believe in this solution and continue to support it as the basis for peace in the Middle East,' he said during a press conference on Tuesday following the 5th meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. Morocco and the Netherlands organized the event as part of the preparatory campaign for the international conference that will take place in New York in June. Zaki recalled the situation in Gaza, where the Israeli Occupation Forces' (IOF) is waging an atrocious genocidal war, noting that Israeli forces also attempted to empty the region in defiance of international humanitarian law and the human values 'we are all supposed to share.' He said that Palestinians have the right to aspire to peace, independence and freedom, thanking Morocco for hosting the event and for its support for the Palestinian cause. Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita made similar remarks during the event, conveying Morocco's full support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. For Bourita, the two-state solution is not just a slogan or political tool, but a moral duty and a realistic political choice. 'Wars have been tried, violence has been used, but they never led to peace,' Bourita said, adding that it is time to turn this solution into a clear roadmap with specific steps. He also warned that some people don't want peace, arguing that 'extremists on both sides' feed on the 'conflict' and only pretend to support Palestinians without giving them real help. On Tuesday, the Palestinian Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faresin Aghabekian Shaheen conveyed Palestine's gratitude on Tuesday during her participation in the same event, thanking King Mohammed VI for his efforts in support of the Palestinian cause and the implementation of the two-state solution. She said that the holding of the event is part of Morocco's sustained efforts to make the State of Palestine a tangible reality. 'We place great hopes on this kind of meeting,' the minister said. Tags: Arab leagueMorocco and Palestinetwo-state solution
