Gaza crisis set to top Arab Summit agenda in Bahrain

The Israel-Palestine conflict cast a large shadow as senior leaders of the Arab world convened in Bahrain for the preparatory meeting of the Arab Ministers of Foreign Affairs ahead of the 33rd Arab Summit.

The ongoing catastrophes in Gaza are set to dominate the agenda at this year's summit, which are set to take place in the Bahraini capital Manama on May 16.

Saudi Arabia's Permanent Representative to the Arab League Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Matar said that the summit "comes at a difficult time of aggression and injustice" in Gaza at a preparatory meeting of foreign ministers on May 13.

He said that during Saudi's presidency of the Arab League last year, they made all possible efforts to achieve regional and international peace and security.

Last year's summit in Jeddah marked the first time that Syria was welcomed back into the 22-member Arab League after 12 years of isolation following mass demonstrations in 2011.

Al-Matar said Saudi Arabia believes the region has great capabilities and wealth that make it capable of overcoming crises, as well as leading and competing globally, through concerted Arab efforts and enhanced cooperation.

"My country, in cooperation with its Arab sister states, has exerted all necessary diplomatic efforts in order to reach an end to the war in Gaza," Al-Matar was quoted as saying by the Saudi Press Agency. He also noted that the "Palestinian cause" was top of the country's foreign policy agenda.

Undersecretary of Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said the gathering was happening "at an exceptional and critical time", given the "magnitude of the challenges" facing Palestinians, the Bahrain News Agency reported.

Al Khalifa, who chaired the ministers meeting, reviewed the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and touched on the danger posed by armed militias that have increased the level of terrorism and pose a threat to regional security.

The meeting also discussed the draft agenda, which included several key items addressing various issues related to joint Arab action in the political, economic, social, cultural and security spheres, as well as cooperation with international and regional groupings.

Among these items was the report of the Presidency of the 32nd Arab Summit on the activities of the Follow-up Committee for Implementing Decisions and Commitments, as well as the report of the Arab League Secretary-General on the progress of joint Arab work.

The undersecretary said that Bahrain, under the leadership of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa along with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, was "exerting utmost efforts to support just Arab causes and is fully committed to fulfilling its obligations and advocating for unity and solidarity".

According to him, "the Palestine cause is the core issue of the conflict in the Middle East and the central cause of the Arab world."

He also called for leveraging the outcomes of the Bahrain summit "to comprehensively revitalize joint Arab action", open new paths for Arab integration based on peace and development, and build partnerships.

Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League and Head of the Office of the Secretary-General Hossam Zaki, also in attendance, expressed optimism that the Bahrain summit will produce positive resolutions and unified positions toward Arab issues and challenges.