MANAMA: The refusal by Israel to stick to the two states solution for Israel-Palestine issue continues to be a major hurdle in achieving a peace in the Middle East.
“A long-lasting peace in the Arab region can only be achieved following a peaceful resolution of the outstanding Palestine and Israel issue,” according to Aboul Gheit, the Arab League Secretary General.
Aboul Gheitb told the participants of the IISS Manama Dialogue 2016 on Monday that Israel has to change its approach towards Palestine by respecting the two nations living in peace side by side would the only solution to the current crisis persisting since many past decades.
“Arabs are under threat of settlements on Arab lands by Israel, on one hand and interference by the Islamic Republic of Iran in internal affairs of other countries, on the other. The early solution to Palestine-Israeli conflict will help in bringing a long-lasting peace in the Arab world,” Aboul Gheitb, said, adding that without a comprehensive peace between Israel and Palestine there would be no real peace in the region.
“Israel is the problem. They do not want to negotiate on two state solution of Palestine,” he said, adding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should assume responsibility by stopping settlements and reversing anti-Palestine policies to bring a real peace in this part of the world. Israelis, think they are living in paradise compared to rest of Middle East and why they are not taking the peace process seriously? Israelis, think they can live with this continuous conflict for another 100 years but let me tell you even after 200 years Israelis will have to accept to the fact that Palestine is a reality and they Israelis will have to give back the grabbed Arab lands,” he said.
Aboul Gheitb called upon the Arab states to implement the good governance, rule of law, respect of human rights and protection of rights of minorities which according him will serve as a catalyst to change within instead of foreign interference.
Held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the 1st Deputy Prime Minister, the Crown Prince and Deputy Commander in Chief of Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF), the 12th Manama Dialogue, was held in the Kingdom of Bahrain with focus on constructive and collective responses to the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, instability in Libya and Yemen, the menace of violent extremism, and debate the regional security architecture. The future of US policy – a month after the Presidential elections – as well as European and Asian engagements in the region will also be at the center of the discussions.
