World, Middle East

Arab League slammed for not condemning UAE-Israel deal

Widespread criticism ensues after Arab foreign ministers reject Palestinian resolution to condemn Israel-UAE normalization

10.09.2020 - Update : 10.09.2020
Arab League slammed for not condemning UAE-Israel deal

ISTANBUL

The Arab League faced fierce criticism on social media platforms after it dropped a Palestinian draft resolution condemning the UAE-Israel normalization deal.

On Wednesday, an Arab League meeting at the level of foreign ministers was held via video conference after days of ambiguity and division over Palestine's request for an emergency meeting to reject Emirati normalization with Israel.

According to the Arab media outlets, the Palestinian request was met with objection by the tiny kingdom of Bahrain.

In a move that sparked outrage on the social media platforms, the final statement of the Arab ministerial meeting failed to condemn normalization with Israel, and instead renewed commitment to the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, two-state solution, and adherence to international law and resolutions relevant to the dispute between Palestine and Israel.

Several Twitter users criticized what they called the "negative position" of the Arab League regarding the normalization of the UAE with Israel, terming that as a "death certificate" for the Arab bloc.

Ayman Nour, an Egyptian opposition member, tweeted: "The Arab League has been pronounced dead after dropping a Palestinian draft resolution condemning the Emirati-Israeli normalization agreement."

Nour echoed a statement issued by the Arab Council, established in 2014, in which Arabs were told to consider the Arab League a “dead entity” with no hope “for reform and revival”.
Another twitter user, Tawfiq Alawiya, joked that the Arab League “regrets” delaying normalization with Israel and that Palestine should “repent” for violating the Arab consensus.

Jordanian-Palestinian writer and politician Yasser Zaatarah tweeted that the Arab League decision was “expected”, adding the move is a new confirmation that the Arab bloc’s behavior is inconsistent with the demands of the "Ummah."

Zaatarah said: "The condemnation by the Ummah is clear to everyone. It does not recognize the Arab initiative, because Palestine, all of Palestine, is a red line."

Hussein Faye, a twitter user, tweeted that it is an “honor” to be against the “traitors” who approve the normalization, referring to the Arab League’s refusal to condemn the UAE-Israel normalization.

Another Twitter account by the name Hamza Zaraqit commented on the newspapers' reporting of the Arab ministerial meeting, saying that news should talk about the Arab League’s approval of the normalization deal and not its failure “to adopt a resolution condemning the normalization between the UAE and the Israeli enemy”.

“That [in reality] is the desired result of the meeting,” Zaraqit added.

Ibrahim Al-Shadawi, another Twitter user, simply posted: "In short, the Arab League sold Palestine at a cheap price!"

On Aug. 13, the UAE and Israel announced a US-brokered agreement to normalize relations, including opening embassies in each other's territory.

The Palestinian Authority and resistance factions denounced the deal, saying it does not serve the Palestinian cause and ignores the rights of Palestinians.

The Palestinian Authority said any deal with Israel should be based on the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative on the principle of "land for peace" and not "peace for peace" as Israel claims.

Ibrahim Mukhtar contributed to this report from Ankara*

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