HH the Emir Calls for Influential Arab Stance to Stop Israeli Aggression and Lift Gaza Siege

Doha, November 18 (QNA) - HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has underlined the importance of having an influential Arab stance internationally to stop bloodshed of the Palestinians and to prevent any new Israeli aggression, particularly on the Gaza Strip. HH the Emir stressed that its time that Israelis should lift the siege on the Gaza Strip, especially as it is a liberated land. HH the Emir said that Israel by its nature would not stop the aggression unless it finds stiff resistance, as happened in Gaza and in Hezbollah in the southern Lebanon. HH the Emir called for focusing on the Jerusalem issue, especially as there is a huge settlement process now taking place there, HH the Emir noted. In an interview with Al Jazeera Channel TV aired this evening, HH the Emir said that his visit to Egypt and his meeting with Egypt's President Dr. Mohammed Morse, came because of the situation in Gaza .. HH the Emir said, "We of course always coordinate with Egypt .. Egypt is the most important Arab country and it required to have role in the Arab world .. Egypt is different from Egypt earlier, we came to see the positions at the same time to understand exactly Egyptian mediation now taking place between the Palestinians, brethren in Gaza and the Israelis to ceasefire. HH the Emir said adding : " I hope Egypt will succeed although I think it is difficult because the Israel's policy which does not give room for any mediation to succeed. " On the outcome of talks with Egyptian President, HH the Emir said: It had been agreed on humanitarian aid for Gaza "and also we thanked the President for Egypt's humanitarian and medical aid and for opening its hospitals for the wounded Palestinians .. This is the first time we see this happen in Egypt. ", HH the Emir noted On Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi withdrawing the Egyptian ambassador from Israel and delivering a letter of strong protest to the Israeli ambassador in Cairo after the recent Israeli aggression on Gaza, HH the Emir said his "Of course what was done by Egypt is an attempt to press Israel to stop its aggression, and its Egypt's rights to use any means .... the most important thing that Egypt is trying to stop the Palestinian bloodshed. " HH the Emir said Assessing the Arab position towards the Israeli aggression on Gaza, HH the Emir explained that situation has changed after the Arab Spring revolutions. HH recalled that during the Israeli attack on Gaza in 2008, Egypt contributed nothing to the people in Gaza, noting that this time the Egyptian prime minister and the Tunisian foreign visited Gaza. HH also noted he himself visited Gaza under the new situation. HH the Emir said it was time to urge the Israelis to lift the siege on Gaza, noting that the strip is a free territory and should not be blockaded. HH praised Egypt's opening of the Rafah crossing for humanitarian assistance and for Gazans to move through the crossing. On the ability of the Arab League's decisions to deter Israel's aggression or to provide protection for Palestinians in Gaza, HH the Emir said the hope is there, however,it is natural for Israel not to stop its aggression unless it met a strong resistance in Gaza, similar to the resistance put up by Hizbollah in southern Lebanon in 2006. HH said that at the time the Arabs were seeking peace Israel was preferring aggression, pointing out that there are territories that are still under occupation such as the Shebaa farms of Lebanon , Syria's Golan Heights , the West Bank and Jerusalem. HH noted that a large scale Jewish settlement effort is under way in the holy city and that Arabs should focus on the issue. HH the Emir recalled that Israel has repeatedly violated the truce with Hamas, explaining that after the Israeli aggression in 2008 a truce was reached but later breached by Israel. HH called for an effective Arab role to stem the Palestinian bloodshed and prevent a new Israeli aggression. Asked about the idea that some analysts have linked the current aggression on Gaza to Israeli election on one hand, and to the killing of Syrian people by its regime on the other hand, HH the Emir said of course it is because of the election and it is the fact that Israeli government and the Prime Minister are trying to create a problem that can lead them to win the election, but this problem may make them lose if they continue their aggression and the people of Gaza continued to counter this aggression. "But to link it to Syria I believe that the issue of Syria is quite different and that in Syria there is a peaceful demand for dignity. The way in which the Syrian regime dealt with the Syrian people was wrong and led to what we see now from the destruction of the cities and deaths every day," His Highness said. Regarding his assessment to the situation in Syria now, especially after the Doha conference which resulted in the formation of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Force and brought all the Syrian opposition groups for the first time under one umbrella that is now speaking on behalf of the Syrian people and is getting recognition regionally and internationally, His Highness the Emir said: "This is an issue for the Syrians and they have formed their council. France is first country to recognize them and I think that France has now an ambassador representing the council and will be Syria's ambassador in Paris, and I think that more countries will continue to recognize them." The most important thing, HH the Emir said, is to reach a conclusion on how to stop bloodshed in Syria. "This is for the council outside Syria and at the same time we must remember that there is a resistance inside Syria and work together to reconcile between the two constantly in order to find a solution with the regime if possible. " For a proposal of Arab and UN peacekeepers in Syria to stop the bloodshed, and the extent to which this proposal can be implemented now, HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani said: "I think this is a difficult issue now, but if this proposal was put forward from the beginning or even in the middle and was accepted to have Arab troops to stop the bloodshed it would have been better for both sides, and better for the Arabs, but now I see that the situation has become difficult, especially after the formation of the Syrian national council and the international recognition for it. However, we in Qatar supports any attempt that can end the bloodshed in Syrian." (QNA)