Hamas slams participation of Arab, African figures at normalization conference in al-Quds

The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement has harshly condemned the participation of a number of Arab and African personalities in a conference centered on normalization with the apartheid Tel Aviv regime, and their meetings with several high-profile Israeli authorities and political leaders.

“Hamas deplores the delegation's participation in a conference organized by a fascist Israeli research center, which does not recognize the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and adamantly advocates their forcible expulsion and re-settlement,” Abdul Latif al-Qanou, the group’s spokesman, said in a statement.

He added, “Hamas reiterates its rejection of all forms of normalization with the occupying Israeli regime, as the step runs contrary to achievement of justice for the oppressed Palestinian people and restoration of their right to freedom and self-determination.”

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“We call on all states and concerned organizations to condemn and reject this event, and boycott the usurping and apartheid Israeli entity, which openly denies the existence of Palestinians,” the statement pointed out.

According to the Arabic-language Arabi21 online newspaper, more than 20 personalities are participating in a three-day normalization conference in the occupied al-Quds, which would apparently explore avenues to promote diplomatic ties between Israel and Arab states of the Persian Gulf region as well as African countries.

Among the participants is a Saudi reporter, who has attended the conference after having obtained an approval from the government.

Itamar Eichner, a political correspondent for the Hebrew-language Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, revealed that among the guests are representatives of research and diplomatic institutes and journalists.

The conference has reportedly been organized by the so-called Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (JCPA).

Eichner added that among the participants were representatives from Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Djibouti, Tunisia, Mauritania, and Sudan, which do not have diplomatic relations with Israel, as well as delegates from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Chad, Ethiopia, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somaliland, South Africa, South Sudan and Uganda.

He pointed out that, in addition to panel discussions on enhancement of relations between Israel and Arab countries of the Persian Gulf region as well as African states, the Arab and African guests visited the Knesset (parliament), and met with its speaker, Amir Ohana.

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Israeli president Isaac Herzog sent a recorded greeting to the participants, while the head of the so-called national security council, Tzachi Hanegbi, addressed them in a speech.

Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates signed US-brokered normalization agreements with Israel in an event in Washington in September 2020.

Sudan and Morocco followed suit later in the year and inked similar US-brokered normalization deals with the occupying regime.

The move sparked widespread condemnations from the Palestinians as well as nations and human rights advocates across the globe, especially within the Muslim world.

Palestinians slammed the deals as a treacherous “stab in the back” and a betrayal of their cause against the decades-long Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

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