Abbas hails Emir’s proposal to set up $1bn Arab fund

QNA/DohaPalestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has welcomed the call of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, for the establishment of a fund in support of Al Quds (Jerusalem) with a capital of $1bn.  The Emir proposed at the 24th Arab summit here yesterday the creation of a $1bn Arab fund for East Jerusalem, which Palestinians say should be the capital of an independent state under any peace deal with Israel. HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani offered to contribute $250mn to the fund. “(Jerusalem) is in serious danger, which requires of us serious action. Palestinian, Arab and Islamic rights in Jerusalem cannot be compromised. Israel must realise this,” the Emir said in his address. Describing HH the Emir’s gesture as “fantastic and wonderful”, the Palestinian president expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Emir. Abbas also expressed in a statement to reporters following the opening session of the Arab summit expressed deep thanks for Qatar’s contribution of a quarter of a billion dollars to the fund and appealed to other Arab countries to pay the remaining of amounts they have pledged. “It is such a magnificent initiative on part of HH the Emir of Qatar, we wish the others to respond to it and help establish such a fund”, Abbas siad.  In his address the Emir said, “I call upon your esteemed summit, if we are serious in defending the Arab character of Jerusalem and in order to save what could be saved for the establishment of a fund in support of Jerusalem with a capital of one billion dollars, provided that it is to be implemented immediately after the conclusion of this summit”. “I declare on behalf of the State of Qatar our contribution of a quarter of a billion dollars to the fund. The remaining sum is to be contributed by capable Arab countries, and I suggest that the Islamic Bank for Development manages this fund”. “I also wish to refer in this respect to the blockade, which the Gaza Strip suffers from and to stress the need for co-operation and work to enable our brothers there to overcome it and to activate all decisions on the reconstruction of the Strip”, said the Emir said. Qatar has already pledged $500mn to the Gaza Strip. The Arab League is expected to pledge between $500mn and $1bn to Palestine.  Meanwhile, in Gaza Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh welcomed the Emir’s call to convene a mini-Arab summit in Cairo to realise inter-Palestinian reconciliation. In a statement yesterday, Haniyeh said, “We welcome such a generous call out of our appreciation and constant response to any Egyptian, Arab and Islamic drive aiming at reviving the reconciliation process.” In his address before the opening session of the 24th Arab summit, the Emir  said : “Israel has to realise that force does not bring security, and that peace alone would achieve security for all, and that its illegal practices or violation of the sanctity of Al Aqsa Mosque, Judaising of East Jerusalem, settlement policy and detaining Palestinian captives in Israeli prisons, all these practices and policies would only lead to creating tension in the region, increase despair and frustration among the Palestinian people and putting more hurdles on the path of the already stalled peace process.  “Realising the gravity of continuation of this situation and its repercussions, we propose - for the sake of putting the Palestinian house in order - convening a smaller Arab summit in Cairo at the earliest under the chairmanship of Egypt, and the participation of any Arab countries that wish to attend in addition to Fatah and Hamas leaderships”, the Emir said.The Emir said, “The task of this summit - which shouldn’t be wound up before realising that task  - is to agree on reaching a Palestinian national reconciliation according to practical executive steps and a specific timetable on the bases of Cairo Agreement 2011 and the Doha agreement 2012.Separately, chief of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation Steering and Monitoring Committee Saeb Erekat said yesterday that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was ready to attend the mini Arab summit in Cairo, an initiative made by HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.  Erekat said that Abbas expressed his willingness to attend the mini summit in Cairo alongside Fatah and Hamas leaders in order to achieve the Palestinian national reconciliation. The reconciliation deal agreed in Doha last year stated that Abbas would form a new cabinet for 90 days, during which presidential and parliamentary elections would be held.  Erekat also praised the speech of the Emir, particularly with regard to the Palestinian issue. Erekat said that the Emir offered a comprehensive plan and its implementation mechanisms for the first time at any Arab Summit. The plan presented by the Emir was threefold: firstly that any peace process must be built on an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Secondly  achieving a Palestinian national reconciliation. Erekat also expressed his appreciation for the initiative of the Emir to establish a fund in support of Jerusalem worth $1bn. He also thanked Qatar for contributing with a quarter of that amount.