Muslim countries must take a coordinated effort
I’m surprised hearing that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a secret proposal from Saudi Arabia to broker an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal at the end of the 2014 Gaza war. The rejection led to a deep rift between Jerusalem and Riyadh that lasted until the death of King Abdullah in 2015.
The report was first carried by Israel’s Channel 13 news and later it was circulated by different international media. It came at a time when Saudi King Salman met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and pledged support for the Palestinian cause.
On the final day of Operation Protective Edge in August 2014, Riyadh put forward a three-pronged proposition to Jerusalem, which included Saudi assistance in the rehabilitation of the recently devastated Gaza Strip, the restarting of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations and a joint Israel-Saudi front against Iran. The plan was described as an “upgraded version of the Arab Peace Initiative.”
I think, the Muslim countries must come forward with a combined and coordinated plan to get a solution over Palestine issue. Otherwise, it will be too hard to bend present right leaning Israeli government.
Dr Ranjit Barua
Muscat, Oman
