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Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar still backs an 18-year-old Arab peace plan that ties normalising relations with Israel to putting an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, Qatar’s Ambassador to the US HE Meshal bin Hamad Al Thani has said.
“Doha remains committed to the just settlement of the Palestinian cause based on the Arab Peace Initiative and a two-state solution in a way that achieves security and stability in the region,” the ambassador told Newsweek.
The Arab Peace Initiative was first endorsed by the Arab League at the 22-member group’s 2002 summit. The proposal calls for the establishment of ties between Israel and the Arab World in exchange for the former’s withdrawal from occupied territories that include the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as parts of Syria and Lebanon, along with the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
“Both Qatar and the US recognise that a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians is important to the stability of the Middle East,” the envoy told Newsweek. “We continue to play an active role in working towards a peaceful resolution,” he reiterated.
“Qatar has long argued for use of mediation and de-escalation as means for conflict resolution,” he said.
“For the past two decades, Qatar has sought to bring stability and peace to the region and beyond, not only in Gaza, but also in Lebanon, Afghanistan and Sudan.”
He emphasised the important peacemaking role Qatar continues to play, especially in the embattled Gaza Strip.
“Qatar has provided Palestine and the Gaza Strip with vital support to ensure the peaceful and stable development of Gaza and its citizens through multiple aid programmes,” he said.
On the unjust blockade imposed on Qatar, he said the blockade has not deterred his country from its policies or its alliances.
“The blockade is not only unjustified, but it has been completely ineffective. In these three years we have built even stronger geopolitical alliances and grown economic relationships, especially with the US,” he added.
He did not mince words in expressing his gratitude to the Trump administration.
“We are grateful to the US government which, over the past three years, has worked with us to try to bring the illegal blockade of Qatar to an end,” he added.
“We appreciate President Trump’s recent calls for Saudi Arabia and the UAE to end their air blockade against Qatar. Our American allies are aware that the blockade is counterproductive and only creates further instability in the region.”
Doha
Qatar still backs an 18-year-old Arab peace plan that ties normalising relations with Israel to putting an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, Qatar’s Ambassador to the US HE Meshal bin Hamad Al Thani has said.
“Doha remains committed to the just settlement of the Palestinian cause based on the Arab Peace Initiative and a two-state solution in a way that achieves security and stability in the region,” the ambassador told Newsweek.
The Arab Peace Initiative was first endorsed by the Arab League at the 22-member group’s 2002 summit. The proposal calls for the establishment of ties between Israel and the Arab World in exchange for the former’s withdrawal from occupied territories that include the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as parts of Syria and Lebanon, along with the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
“Both Qatar and the US recognise that a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians is important to the stability of the Middle East,” the envoy told Newsweek. “We continue to play an active role in working towards a peaceful resolution,” he reiterated.
“Qatar has long argued for use of mediation and de-escalation as means for conflict resolution,” he said.
“For the past two decades, Qatar has sought to bring stability and peace to the region and beyond, not only in Gaza, but also in Lebanon, Afghanistan and Sudan.”
He emphasised the important peacemaking role Qatar continues to play, especially in the embattled Gaza Strip.
“Qatar has provided Palestine and the Gaza Strip with vital support to ensure the peaceful and stable development of Gaza and its citizens through multiple aid programmes,” he said.
On the unjust blockade imposed on Qatar, he said the blockade has not deterred his country from its policies or its alliances.
“The blockade is not only unjustified, but it has been completely ineffective. In these three years we have built even stronger geopolitical alliances and grown economic relationships, especially with the US,” he added.
He did not mince words in expressing his gratitude to the Trump administration.
“We are grateful to the US government which, over the past three years, has worked with us to try to bring the illegal blockade of Qatar to an end,” he added.
“We appreciate President Trump’s recent calls for Saudi Arabia and the UAE to end their air blockade against Qatar. Our American allies are aware that the blockade is counterproductive and only creates further instability in the region.”
