The Arab Nations Reject Jerusalem as a Capital

Mauro Indelicato

A delicate summit, a meeting from which an official communiquè comes out, which enters into various topics relating to the political rift within the Arab and Islamic world: here is the response following the three days in which all Muslim nation leaders met in Mecca. From Israel to Iran, from the question of Palestine ending with what is occurring with the Rohingya people in Myanmar. Many points were touched on, so many controversies.

The Palestinian question

Within the document released at the end of the summit in the sacred Muslim city, with the approval of all the leaders present, a particular place seems occupied yet again by the story relating to the question of Palestine. The Islamic world seems preoccupied by the recent awards given by the United States of the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem which are Israeli territories: “The organisation of Islamic countries – reads the communiquè – opposes any illegal Israeli measures in order to try and change to the status quo in the region, and undermine, by making, the “two state solution” designed to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Indeed, the OIC urges all its member states to take appropriate measures against countries that will move their embassy to Jerusalem.”

Furthermore, the organisation of Islamic states condemns the recent steps taken by the USA and asks it to make decisions aimed at respecting the inalienable rights of Palestinians. There in order to participate during the three days of the summit, there was also Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas who had pointed the finger at the attempts made by  Americans, accord the leader of the ANP, to benefit only the Israeli counterpart. His government, having let Abbas know again, will not participate in the workshop in Manam on the 25th of June organised and desired by the White House.

Teheran: “Saudi Arabia tries to divide the Islamic World”

But if on the Palestinian question the Islamic leaders settle their differences with the USA, it is Iran instead that is positioned together with the hosting Saud’s in considerable opposition against that of Washington and with the fears of Israel. King Salman, at the beginning of the the summit, called for a common position against those who defended “acts of terrorism” carried out from Tehran against Saudis themselves and those in the Emirates. The reference is to the sabotage of oil sites in the past few weeks, whether it is Riyads that Washington imputes to Iranian brand actions. The position of Saudi Arabia is the same as its regional allies, starting with Egyptian president Al Sisi. King Abdullah of Jordan also joins the choir, after which within the Islamic world the Arab nations have to take a position against the intrusions on the part of other nations, with clear reference to Iran.

Much of the Arab world is following positions in line with Israel’s concerns. This is a circumstance that is underlined by the government of Tehran: “Saudi Arabia wants to exploit the Mecca summit – declares Iranian foreign minister Abbas Mousavi – to attack Iran by joining forces with the US and Israel. In this way we miss an opportunity to focus on the Palestinian issue.” MOreover, according to Tehran, the joint declaration of the summit in which, even without mentioning Iran, it refers to the need for non. Interference by countries in the region in Arab matters, is not shared by all the leaders present in Mecca: “In this way – reads a statement by the Iranian executive – “The Islamic world breaks.”