TUNIS: Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister decried the US decision to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights at a meeting of Arab countries in Tunis on Friday.
“We reject President Trump’s declaration on the occupied Golan, which is a Syrian Arab land,” Ibrahim Al-Assaf told the meeting of foreign minsters in the Tunisian capital, which took place two days ahead of the Arab League summit.
The annual summit, to be attended by King Salman, is expected to tackle a number of regional issues – from the conflict in Yemen to Iran’s behavior in the region.
Al-Assaf said the Kingdom supports Syria’s territorial integrity and a political solution based on dialogue between the opposition and government.
Donald Trump this week signed a presidential proclamation officially recognising Israel’s control of the area, which it has occupied since 1967 when the Golan Heights was captured from Syria.
The move came ahead of April 9 Israeli elections and as Washington prepares to reveal a new Middle East peace plan, which many fear will be biased towards Israel.
Al-Assaf told the ministers that Saudi Arabia rejects “any measures that affect the historical status of Jerusalem” – the city Palestinians want as part of their future state. East Jerusalem was also occupied along with Gaza and the West Bank during the 1967 war.
Tunisian foreign minister Khemaies Jhinaoui and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit offered similar sentiments over the status of Jerusalem during the meeting.
The Saudi foreign minister also spoke about the “interference of Iran and its militias” in the Arab world.
“Iran’s ballistic missiles pose a threat to regional and international security… We hold Iran fully responsible for what is happening in Yemen,” he said.
He then praised the efforts of the United Nations in Yemen, Syria, and Libya.
Jhinaoui also spoke about Palestine and Libya, expressing support for both countries.
“We call upon our brothers in Libya to unite and give the country’s interest to reach a comprehensive solution.”
He then assured of the Arab League’s role in addressing regional problems “to serve the common causes.”
“The threat of terrorism exists and remains the greatest challenge for our countries,” he said.
Before closing the session, Aboul Gheit praised Saudi Arabia’s leadership of the last summit in April 2018.
