Arab League chief under fire after saying Palestine less important

The Arab League chief has got himself in hot water after saying the importance of the Palestinian cause has “reduced” even as Israel is stepping up its coercive measures in the occupied territories. 

“There are more pressing matters we (Arab countries) must contend with, since the Arab world has dramatically changed," Ahmed Aboul Gheit said in a recent televised interview with a local Egyptian channel.

He also stressed that the Arab region is currently going through tougher times compared to 2010.

"Arab nations have recently seen the hardest of times,” Aboul Gheit noted, citing the crises gripping Yemen, Syria and Libya.

"We must not forget the mistakes made by Arab rulers, inflicting tragedies upon the region," he said. 

Several political analysts condemned Aboul Gheit's remarks as a step towards the normalization of relations between Arab countries and the Tel Aviv regime.

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An Egyptian political analyst, identified as Mahmoud, told The Media Line that the Arab League chief’s “statements are a clear attempt to prepare the ground for the normalization of relations with the Zionist entity."

“He (Aboul Gheit) is not very smart because the Arab street would never accept this entity in any way,” he said, emphasizing that Arab citizens have turned away from their governments on the issue.

“The majority of Arabs see Israel as a foreign body, and feel threatened by it. While politicians have their own agendas and interests with the Zionist entity, the wider Arab nation does not and rejects it,” Mahmoud pointed out.

Jordanian political commentator Moeen al-Taher said Aboul Gheit's comments implied that he is seeking to establish formal ties with Israel and soften the Arab public opinion on the matter.

Lebanese political analyst Qasem Qaseer described the Zionist entity as "the region’s core problem" and accused the Arab League of "trying to de-prioritize" the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“He (Aboul Gheit) said he is not trying to prioritize other issues. Nevertheless, the Zionist entity is the main issue and the reason for all other problems in the region," he said.

Qaseer referred to the Arab world's outrage over US President Donald Trump's controversial recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as the Israeli “capital” in December 2017. 

"When the US recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, citizens throughout the Arab world took to the streets and loudly protested against it, which shows that the ongoing conflict between the Zionist entity and the Palestinians is the most pressing issue on the agenda,” he said.

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