Talks at IISS Manama Dialogue highlights ‘New Initiatives for Regional Peace’

TDT | Manama                                                   

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Report by Zahra Ayaz

The fourth-panel discussion at the prestigious IISS Manama Dialogue, held yesterday, shed light on new initiatives aimed at fostering regional peace.

Distinguished speakers from various countries shared their perspectives on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine and emphasised the urgent need for a resolution.

HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal Al Saud, Chairman of the Board at the King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies and former Director of the General Intelligence Directorate in Saudi Arabia, underscored the historical context of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

He emphasised that the recent escalation of violence, particularly the Israeli assault on Gaza, amounts to a humanitarian crisis and threatens to escalate further, potentially involving the use of nuclear weapons.

Prince Turki Al Faisal Al Saud expressed his disappointment with the international community’s failure to prevent the conflict and stressed the collective responsibility of all nations to find a solution.

He called for the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions, as has been done in the case of Iraq and other countries.

Dr. Ahmed Abou El Gheit, Secretary General of the League of Arab States, highlighted the urgent need to end the war between Israel and Gaza.

He stated that the cessation of hostilities would require either the surrender of one party or a compromise between the two countries.

Dr. Ahmed Abou El Gheit mentioned that the Arab League had previously offered an initiative called the Arab Peace Initiative, based on the principle of “land for peace,” which aimed to establish a fair and secure peace agreement.

He expressed his hope that Israel would recognise the need to coexist peacefully with Palestine and allow the Palestinian people to flourish, emphasizing that imposing one’s will on others is not a sustainable solution.

The Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, Commonwealth, and United Nations, representing the United Kingdom, reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the UK as a reliable partner in the region.

He acknowledged the disastrous consequences of the ongoing war for the region and emphasized that it is a shared tragedy that affects all of humanity.

Lord Ahmad expressed concern for the people of Gaza, who already suffer from poverty and are now facing even more hardship as a result of the conflict.

He called for collective action, including open dialogue, public and private diplomacy, and providing aid and security to those in need.