Blitz Bureau
LEADERS of seven Arab countries held talks in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) in an attempt to thrash out a plan for the future of Gaza, according to Al Jazeera. The meeting on February 21 was meant to respond to a plan raised by US President Donald Trump for the US to “take over” Gaza and turn the Palestinian enclave into the “Riviera” of the Middle East and his call on Egypt and Jordan to take in resettled Gaza Palestinians.
Both countries reject the proposal, citing national security concerns, but there are no signs Arab states are making serious progress, opens new tab on a counter-plan, adds Reuters. Arab leaders have roundly rejected Trump’s proposal, saying it throws out decades of work towards Palestinian self-determination, treads on the rights of residents of Gaza and will perpetuate a regional cycle of violence.
They hope to present an alternative plan with unified support at a March 4 Arab League meeting in Cairo, Egypt. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had called the Riyadh meeting, which was attended by Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al Sabah and Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
