Archiv: Hamas (militia) and Israel out of Gaza / Demilitarization or exile whereever / No excuses / UN troops on the ground / Free fair and safe elections / Constitutional Assembly / Independence Day!


20.02.2025 - 20:47 [ Saudi Gazette ]

Crown Prince convenes meeting of leaders of Gulf, Egypt and Jordan in Riyadh on Friday

RIYADH — Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman will hold an informal fraternal meeting with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Egypt‘s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in Riyadh on Friday, Feb. 21. The meeting follows an invitation extended by the Crown Prince to these leaders, the Saudi Press Agency reported quoting an official Saudi source.

This meeting comes within the context of the special friendly meetings that have been held periodically for many years between the leaders of the GCC, Jordan and Egypt, the source said.

19.02.2025 - 08:49 [ Middle East Eye ]

Egypt says Trump backs its Gaza plan, convinced by Jordan‘s king

The official confirmed that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is set to travel to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, likely on Thursday, to discuss Egypt’s plan for post-war Gaza governance. (…)

The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that the Egyptian plan would not include Hamas or the PA. The report said it would involve a police force made up of PA policemen who remained in Gaza after 2007, when Hamas won legislative elections and took control of the enclave.

MEE reported in May that Hamas was prepared to show „flexibility“ about the future governance of Gaza, stating its condition was that Gaza’s fate was agreed upon by other Palestinian factions and not imposed by either the United States or Israel.

18.02.2025 - 04:14 [ Middle East Eye ]

As Trump looks to turn page on Gaza and Ukraine, all roads lead to Riyadh

Saudi Arabia is neutral ground for Trump to restore high-level ties to Russia, but the crown prince is opposing his Gaza plans

14.02.2025 - 19:24 [ Reuters ]

Saudi Arabia spearheads Arab scramble for alternative to Trump‘s Gaza plan

The role of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, widely known as MbS, is shaping up to be key.
„We are telling the Americans we have a plan that works. Our meeting with MbS is going to be critical. He is taking the lead,“ said a Jordanian official.

31.01.2025 - 23:38 [ Middle East Eye ]

Exclusive: Palestinian Authority tells US it is ready to ‚clash‘ with Hamas for control of Gaza

Ziad Abu Amr, one of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s longtime advisors, would become the de facto ruler of the Gaza Strip, heading the committee. He would be appointed deputy to Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa but endowed with massive new powers.

Abu Amr was born in the Gaza Strip in 1950. He could be palatable to the Trump administration because he is also a US citizen. He obtained his PhD from Georgetown University and served as deputy Palestinian prime minister from 2013 to 2024.

28.01.2025 - 19:43 [ Axios ]

Scoop: White House envoy met senior Palestinian official in Saudi Arabia

Why it matters: This was the first meeting between a Trump administration official and a Palestinian official since November‘s election.

– The meeting between Witkoff and Hussein al-Sheikh took place amid efforts by the Trump administration to end the war in Gaza and push for a Saudi-Israeli peace deal that includes a path toward a Palestinian state.

28.01.2025 - 19:29 [ Middle East Monitot ]

Saudi envoy to UK: No normalisation with Israel without Palestinian state

He added that Palestine has been fought over for 6,000 years, and that “it is not an easy thing to find, whether it’s during the Crusades […] I can’t think of anywhere that’s had that much done to it.”

However, he stressed that “good things are never easy. And anyone who is objecting to what almost the whole world sees as the solution cannot be right. So, you know, again, that’s why I’m not optimistic, because we have a lot of problems along the way.”

Al Saud asserted that “there’s no other solution” other than a two-state solution.

27.01.2025 - 17:17 [ Middle East Eye ]

General‘s plan architect: ‚We are at the mercy of Hamas‘

In an interview with Israeli Army Radio, Eiland said that Israel‘s opening of the Netzarim corridor meant it has lost leverage over Hamas.

25.12.2024 - 15:02 [ Forward.com ]

Netanyahu throws cold water on hostage deal prospects, and reminds us what a curse he is for Israel

(December 23, 2024)

From the beginning it was clear that the only feasible post-Hamas arrangement would be a return of the Palestinian Authority, which now runs the West Bank autonomy zones, back to Gaza, from which Hamas expelled it in 2007 by force. Israel itself once yearned for this, back when rational people governed the country. The proposals pushed by President Joe Biden for more than a year now envision versions of this, with the PA rejuvenated and assisted by Arab and perhaps other forces.

An Israel that wanted this would have ensured that Hamas is out of the way, publicly and persistently offering its remaining troops exile. Arab pressure on the group would have been overpowering. Israel would possibly get peace with Saudi Arabia as part of the bargain.

Instead, Netanyahu’s goons flooded the airwaves arguing that Israel cannot pull out of Gaza and end the war because Hamas would regain power.

02.03.2024 - 23:00 [ Bloomberg ]

US and EU Back UN Force in Postwar Gaza, Adding Pressure on Israel

(16.11.2023)

The people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations, said US and European officials concede big questions remain about whether such an operation would be workable in Gaza, and recognize that Israel remains highly skeptical of such a plan. But they said even discussing the idea may help push Israel to think more about wrapping up the campaign and consider what might come next.

14.02.2024 - 15:10 [ Gibiru.com ]

UN-mandated ground troops from South Africa marching into Palestine to secure the free and fair vote for a Constitutional Assembly, following a popular vote and elections

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14.02.2024 - 14:12 [ White House ]

Remarks by President Biden and His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan After a Meeting

We must make sure the horrors of the past few months since October 7th are never repeated nor accepted by any human being.

We must together, along with Arab partners and the international community, step up efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and immediately start working to create a political horizon that leads to a just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution — an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital but living side by side with Israel in peace and security. This is the only solution that will guarantee peace and security for the Palestinians and the Israelis, as well as the entire region.

14.02.2024 - 14:07 [ Times of Israel ]

Jordan’s King Abdullah: October 7 attacks cannot be accepted by any Muslim

“As I have previously stressed, we must make sure the horrors of the past few months since October 7, are never repeated, nor accepted by any human being.”

“We must together, along with Arab partners and the international community, step up efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and immediately start working to create a political horizon that leads to a just and comprehensive peace” on the pre-1967 lines, he says.

14.02.2024 - 13:59 [ New York Times ]

A Palestinian Exile Champions an Arab Vision for Gaza

Mohammed Dahlan, an adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates, outlined one under which Israel and Hamas would hand power to a new and independent Palestinian leader who could rebuild Gaza under the protection of an Arab peacekeeping force.

While such plans face steep challenges, the leaders of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Emirates are open to supporting processes that are part of efforts leading to a Palestinian state, said Mr. Dahlan, who also has close ties to Egypt’s president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

30.12.2023 - 19:14 [ DailyMaverick.co.za ]

International Villain of the Year: Benjamin Netanyahu and Mohammed Deif

Israel‘s Prime Minister and the commander of the military arm of Hamas stand out in the rogues‘ gallery for their blood-soaked acts of inhumanity.

27.12.2023 - 10:21 [ Managing Democracy / Twitter ]

A new leadership for the PA, followed by UN troops in Gaza and the West Bank defending a new Palestinian state. This is the only way forward.