Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has proposed a NATO-style collective security response to attacks on any Arab or Islamic country in which an attack on one is treated as aggression against all.
Speaking at the emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha, al-Sudani said that the security and stability of any Arab or Islamic country “[are] an integral part of our collective security.”
Theemergency summitof the Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was being held after Israel attacked Hamas leaders in Qatar’s capital, Doha last week.
It comes a day after Foreign Ministers from the participating statesmet behind closed doorsin Doha to hammer out a draft resolution proposing concrete measures against Israel.
Al-Sudani added that he proposed forming “a joint Arab-Islamic committee to convey our position to the Security Council and international bodies.”
“We have a real opportunity to send a clear message confirming that the security of our countries is not a matter of negotiation.”
Mohammed Shia al-Sudani
He also urged leaders at the summit to issue “a unified Arab and Islamic position condemning the attack” on Qatar, which he said had “exceeded all limits and violated every humanitarian principle,” and to develop a comprehensive roadmap for a ceasefire.
The Iraqi Prime Minister added that failure to deter Israel would “lead to further instability and will not achieve security for any party.”
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani formally opened the emergency summit of the Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit with sharp criticism of Israel.
He said that Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu “dreams of the Arab region becoming an Israeli sphere of influence, and this is a dangerous illusion.”
He added that if Israel had accepted the Arab Peace Initiative, “it would have spared the entire region countless tragedies,” referring to the Saudi Arabia-brokered process endorsed by the Arab League in 2002 that outlined steps to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
At that time, Arab leaders collectively offered Israel recognition of its right to exist and a normalisation of diplomatic ties in exchange for its withdrawal from Arab lands captured since 1967.
The Qatari Emir said that citizens and residents were taken by surprise, not only because the attack went against the sovereignty of a state and was a violation of international law, but also on account of this “cowardly aggression.”
He stated that Israeli “aggression is blatant, treacherous, cowardly” and Israel’s war on Gaza has turned into a war of extermination.
He noted that Qatar is a mediating country putting in “efforts to put an end to this devastating war waged against the Palestinian people in Gaza that has turned into a genocide.”
“The negotiations between Israel and Hamas were about to reach an achievement with the help of the sisterly country of Egypt and the United States of America. This has resulted in the liberation of many hostages.
“Israel continues its intransigence and insistence on continuing the war.”
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
Israel Working To Thwart Negotiations
Qatar’s Emir added that anyone who persistently and systematically targets a negotiating party is working to thwart the negotiations.
“A state that is working in a consistent manner for negotiations, a state that is party to the negotiations and yet aggresses the venue [where] the negotiations take place? If Israel wishes to assassinate the Hamas leaders, why then engage in negotiations?
“If you wish to insist on the liberation of hostages, why then do they assassinate all negotiators? How can we host in our country negotiating delegations from Israel while they send drones and planes for an air raid against our country?
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, th
Observers are expecting the leaders to deliver a decisive response to Israel after its attack on Qatar.
Some analysts said that the summit, which ends on Monday evening, could yield concrete measures against Israel for the first time.
READ ALSO:Cedi Remains One of World’s Strongest Currencies – BoG Governor
