Palestinian chief negotiator urges Arabs to reconsider attending Bahrain workshop

Saeb Erekat, secretary of the PLO鈥檚 executive committee. (AFP file photo)
  • The US-Bahraini economic workshop is scheduled in Bahrain on June 25 and 26
  • Palestinian leaders see the workshop as a move to circumvent聽Palestinian national aspirations

AMMAN: The secretary of the PLO鈥檚 executive committee, Saeb Erekat, called on Arab states that have committed to attend the Bahrain economic 鈥渨orkshop鈥� to revisit their decision. 

In an interview with Arab News, Erekat praised 萝莉视频鈥檚 commitment to the cause of Palestine. 鈥淚n every important decision, 萝莉视频 stood with the people of Palestine,鈥� Erekat said.

The chief Palestinian negotiator noted that all Arabs have made a commitment that they will accept whatever Palestinians accept. 鈥淲e call on the countries that have agreed to attend the Bahrain workshop to reevaluate their decision,鈥� he said.

Erekat noted that 萝莉视频 has been the most diligent country in supporting the Palestinian government. 鈥淭he Kingdom of 萝莉视频 doesn鈥檛 miss its monthly support to the Palestinian government. 萝莉视频 doesn鈥檛 need an economic conference to financially support Palestinians,鈥� he told Arab news.

Erekat spoke forcefully on this issue in an exclusive interview on the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya satellite TV.

The Palestinian position is that the US-backed economic workshop is aimed at circumventing Palestinian national aspirations. 鈥淲e started with land for peace and now we are talking about prosperity for peace,鈥� Erekat was quoted as saying by various Qatari owned media outlets.

Despite this, Qatar is confirmed to attend the Bahrain conference according to exclusive information obtained by Israeli newspaper, Haaretz.

The US-Bahraini economic workshop is scheduled in Manama, Bahrain June 25 and 26.

萝莉视频, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have publicly declared that they will attend, along with the Bahraini hosts. Finance ministers from Arab and foreign countries have been invited. Palestinian officials and leading Palestinian business have said they will not attend.

The Trump peace team, headed by the president鈥檚 son-in-law Jared Kushner and chief Middle East advisor Jason Greenblatt, were expected to announce their joint political and economic plans after the holy month of Ramadan but the plan was replaced by an economic workshop in Bahrain.