Qatar re-affirms support for Palestine, rejects normalization with Israel

Qatar Sunday denied plans to thaw ties with Israel and underscored its support for the Palestinian cause.

“The State of Qatar affirmed its firm position on the Palestinian issue, which stipulates ending the Israeli occupation and establishing the State of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital within the framework of international legitimacy and relevant Security Council resolutions while granting all Palestinian refugees the right of return,” Qatar News Agency reported, relaying a statement by the country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry.

“It is regrettable to see some misleading media campaigns that try to mix up issues and distort the image of the State of Qatar at the expense of the brotherly Palestinian people, and their legitimate rights at this defining moment in the history of the conflict.”

The clarification on its position comes as several regional Arab countries namely UAE and Bahrain formerly last week established ties with Israel. Both countries on September 15 became the third and fourth Arab countries after Egypt and Jordan to establish relations with Israel.

US President Donald Trump who brokered the normalization accords also indicated that five to six other Arab countries are expected to follow suit.

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