Muslim leaders acknowledge Saudi role in Hajj

According to Saudi Gazette, leaders of the Muslim Ummah and heads of Islamic organizations have praised Saudi Arabia and its leadership on the successful completion of Hajj this year (2023).

The Muslim World League (MWL) congratulated the Kingdom, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on the successful completion of Hajj.

In a statement issued by the league’s General Secretariat, MWL Secretary-General and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa said the great success of the Hajj is one more accomplishment in the long list of Kingdom’s achievements in serving the Two Holy Mosques and the pilgrims, as well as the entire Muslim world.

He added that this success is the result of great efforts and coordination of operations based on a system that operated in accordance with the highest standards of efficiency, responsibility and professionalism, under the care and direct follow-up of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and of the Crown Prince.

The secretary-general praised the care and services provided by Saudi Arabia to the pilgrims, underlining the relentless endeavors to raise the level of services and harness all capabilities to facilitate the Hajj journey.

In Cairo, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb congratulated the Kingdom's leadership and the Saudi people on the success of the Hajj 1444 Hijri.

Sheikh Al Tayeb commended the great role played by Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince, to provide all services for the pilgrims who come from all over the world to perform this pillar of Islam.

The Grand Imam of Al Azhar prayed to Allah Almighty to protect the Kingdom and all other Muslim countries, and to bless them with security, safety, safety, prosperity and stability.

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Crown Prince Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah have congratulated King Salman on the success of the Hajj season.

In cables sent to the King, the Kuwaiti leadership expressed its sincere congratulations on the outstanding success that was achieved thanks to the care given by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his government, represented by all ministries and sectors, which mobilized and devoted all its capabilities and efforts around the clock with all sincerity and dedication to achieve a successful Hajj.

The Kuwaiti Leadership praised the ongoing expansion works at the Grand Mosque throughout the year and the application of modern smart services and technologies across all ports and sites, which are consistent with the Kingdom's vision of developing services during the Hajj to meet the needs of the pilgrims and facilitate the performance of the Hajj. These efforts will always be admired and appreciated by everyone, they said.

President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) sent a cable of congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques on the occasion of the success of the Hajj.

Sheikh Mohammed expressed his sincere congratulations on the success of the Hajj this year, which was achieved by the grace of Allah Almighty, and thanks to the generous care of King Salman and his wise government and its institutions to ensure that pilgrims can perform the rituals in tranquility and safety.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, also sent two similar cables to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques on the occasion of the success of the Hajj season of 1444 Hijri.

Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Ruler of Sharjah, sent a cable of congratulations to King Salman on the occasion.

Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, the Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, as well as Deputy Rulers Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi and Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi sent similar cables to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Supreme Council Member of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Umm Al Qaiwain, sent a cable of congratulations to King Salman on the occasion of the successful completion of the Hajj 1444 Hijri.

Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Qaiwain, sent a similar cable to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah, sent similar cables of congratulations to King Salman on the occasion.

In Jeddah, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed its congratulations on the success of Hajj 1444 Hijri, praising the services provided by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to visitors to the Grand Mosque from the OIC member states and countries with Muslim minorities.

OIC Secretary General Hussein Ibrahim Taha appreciated the generous care of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to serve the holiest places in the hearts of Muslims, the Two Holy Mosques.

In addition, Taha commended the good hospitality given to the pilgrims and visitors of the Prophet’s Mosque and the great efforts the Kingdom exerted every year to organize a successful Hajj.

He stressed that these great services for the Holy Sites are a great honor as well as a responsibility that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia initiates with dedication, sincerity, generosity, and giving.

Arab Parliament Speaker Adel Al-Asoomi expressed his appreciation for the intensive efforts the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has exerted -- under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman -- in serving pilgrims and ensuring success of the Hajj.

In a statement issued in Cairo, Al-Asoomi said the high-quality Hajj services and all forms of facilitation reflect the Saudi leadership’s keenness on providing pilgrims the highest levels of safety.

He also commended the Kingdom’s constant endeavor to upgrade the services provided to pilgrims, while congratulating Saudi Arabia and the entire Islamic world on the success of this year’s Hajj.

In Riyadh, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi, praised the great efforts of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman toward serving the pilgrims of the Holy Kaaba, adding that such efforts contributed to creating an atmosphere full of tranquility, faith, safety, and ease.

The GCC Secretary General pointed out that Saudi Arabia's tireless endeavors fulfilled the pilgrims' needs and provided maximum care to them in accordance with the purposes of Islamic law and the great attention given by the government of the Kingdom to the guests of Allah.

The GCC Secretary-General extended his congratulations to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman the success of this year's Hajj. He underlined the high level of services extended to the pilgrims that embodied the smooth partnership and coordination between state agencies involved in the organization process under the direct supervision of the wise Saudi leadership.

He underscored the significance of the new and modern projects introduced by the government of the Kingdom during the Hajj, highlighting their important role in paving the way for the full integration of the management of this year's Hajj, which was admired by the pilgrims and their missions.

Albudaiwi confirmed that serving the Two Holy Mosques is a great honor and a great responsibility that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been shouldering since the era of its founder King Abdulaziz through the era of his sons including King Salman. He prayed to the Almighty to reward them for their good deeds toward Islam and Muslims.

He lauded the great efforts produced by all workers in the various sectors linked to supervising the organization of Hajj this year, so that this blessed season becomes a great example for national values such as humanitarian initiatives, volunteering and others.

World Quds Day Celebrations

The World Quds Day is celebrated every year on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan. It was designated Quds Day on August 07, 1979 on the initiative of Imam Khomeini to support the Palestinian cause and nation and mark a new stage of solidarity with the people of Palestine.

Qods Day is a unique manifestation of unity among Muslims and all the world’s freedom seekers in expressing support for Palestine and disgust for the Zionists usurper. It illustrates an unparalleled portrayal of unity among the people of the world to condemn the atrocities and occupation of the Zionist regime and abhor the racist and inhuman nature of the Zionists.

Quds Day also symbolizes resistance. Undoubtedly, the establishment of the illegitimate and forged Zionist entity has become the prime element of instability and insecurity in West Asia since 1948. 

The tyrannized and resilient people of Palestine have risen up with the support of the Muslims and free peoples of the world, with a chain of Palestinian intifadas, against this massive oppression by the Zionist regime and have frustrated and depressed this forged entity.

Over the years, the issue of Palestine has transformed into the main issue of the Muslim world at least for three reasons: Firstly, the complexion of the Palestinian land, its sanctity and status among the followers of Islam. Secondly, the nature of the hostility of Zionists, their religious and historical claims and their expansionist and occupationist spirit. Third, the nature of Western-Zionist coalition which pursues to weaken the Muslim Ummah and generate dissension and split between the Muslims with the hope that the Muslim states remain dependent and reliant on the big powers.   

The Zionist regime is considered as the violator of fundamental rights including the right to self-determination of Palestinians and the main element of permanent insecurity in the region.

There are many reasons for this belief. Zionist regime breaches the international law and regulations as well as human rights and takes actions such as imposing collective punishment, blockading Gaza, completing the West Bank separation wall and evicting and displacing more than 5.7 million Palestinians; the Zionist regime assassinates Palestinian and other Arab and Muslim commanders and soldiers, destroys Palestinian houses and farmlands, Judaizes the al-Quds, and promotes and continues settlement constructions in occupied territories; Zionists enforce curfew on the Palestinian citizens of al-Quds and revoke the identification and permanent residence cards of Palestinians (in violation of international rules and agreements especially Article 43 of the Hague Convention and the Fourth Geneva Convention); moreover, the Zionist regime adopted the “nation-state of the Jewish people” bill in Knesset in 2018 and is separating the Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza. 

While the criminal and occupation-oriented logic of the kid-killer Zionist regime in the past seven decades has produced nothing but the continuation of occupation, murder, racism and dissension in the region, we regretfully are witnessing that a number of Muslim states have closed their eyes on the persistent crimes of the Zionist regime and have fallen into the trap of the Western-Zionist axis and have committed a historical but reversible and amendable mistake. Unfortunately, normalization of relations of some Arab and Muslim states with the Quds-occupying regime has emboldened the Zionists to expand their hostility. The recent desecration and atrocities of the Zionists in al-Aqsa Mosque testify to such emboldening. The satanic Western-Zionist conspiracy aims to hatch differences among the Muslims and has undoubtedly targeted the unity and solidarity of the Muslim world in supporting Palestine. 

The Zionist regime is regarded as the main source of insecurity and threat to regional and international peace and stability and represents the biggest violator of human rights in the world. The Quds-occupying regime is the only regime in the region which owns tens of nuclear warheads and avoids joining the International Atomic Energy Agency and related safeguards. Against this reality, the West and self-proclaimed Western defenders of human rights, in the past years, have continued military-political supports to the Zionist regime without any restriction. For example, we see how Americans, with double standards, veto resolutions against this regime in the United Nations, Human Rights Council, UNESCO and other international organizations. 

Washington has used its veto power at least 40 times to secure the interests of the Zionist regime. This per se suggests the sort of bias and partisan orientation of the Western policies in support of the Zionist regime and ignoring the fundamental rights of the Palestinians. The international community shoulders a heavy responsibility in this connection and must end its long-term silence and inaction and guarantee the termination of occupation and realization of the right to self-determination and human rights for the people of Palestine. 

The “Saif al-Quds (Sword of al-Quds) Operation” in support of the al-Aqsa Mosque dealt a massive blow to the forged Israeli regime. In particular, this stage is a new beginning for the unity of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Occupied Territories of 1948, Palestinian camps and all the Palestinians across the globe. 

Zionist occupiers and their global advocates must know that the determination of resistance will never be tremulous and Islamic and national resistance will continue to exist in various types and forms to support the suppressed people of Palestine. Without doubt, Islamic resistance against the Zionist occupation and diversion in occupied territories, Lebanon, Syria and other Muslim states would pave the grounds for terminating this diversion and purulent gland. As the “Saif al-Quds Operation” indicated, the capacity and capabilities of the Palestinian resistance are strengthening on a daily basis.  

I would like to commemorate the memory of the dignified martyred leaders of resistance such as the great general of resistance and liberation of the holy Quds, Haj Qassem Soleimani, who made continued efforts and wise decisions to fertilize the plant of resistance in so eloquent manner that the resistance movement now constitutes the main pillar of and is pioneer in all effective actions against Zionism and in support of the oppressed.   

The Islamic Republic of Iran would spare no efforts, like the past, in supporting the legitimate and usurped rights of the Palestinian nation. On the basis of the political and democratic plan registered by the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Secretariat of the United Nations, the settlement of the issue of Palestine would be possible only through ending occupation and holding a referendum with the presence of the main inhabitants of the land of Palestine and all refugees to determine their own destiny.

The return of Palestinian refugees to their motherland and holding a national referendum among the original people of this land to shape their destiny and the type of political system is the most effective solution to resolve this crisis. Based on this proposal, Muslims, Jews and Christians of Palestinian descent should be bale to choose the type of legal system that is going to govern their destiny and benefit from its rights freely and equally. This plan, which has been presented based on the principles of democracy and international law as recognized by all governments and nations, could definitely replace the previous failed schemes. 

In conclusion, I would like to ask all the people of Iran and other Muslims in the world as well as freedom seekers and awakened consciences to participate gloriously in the ceremonies and rallies across the globe to mark the World Quds Day to commemorate this great day and express solidarity with the suppressed people of Palestine.   

Biden administration shows little progress with Abraham Accords on first anniversary

According to certain reports Biden administration has made little progress in advancing normalization agreements between Israel and Arab and Muslim-majority countries more than one year since they were first established under the Trump administration.

Supporters of the agreements, ‘The Abraham Accords’ say President Joe Biden is missing a key opportunity on an issue that enjoys rare bipartisan support in a polarized and hyper-partisan Congress.

They add that the President can reap tangible successes in the Middle East, including on improving conditions for Palestinians, while taking ownership of a Trump foreign policy success.

The stalled progress is likely to give ammo to Republicans ahead of the 2022 and 2024 elections, who seek to skewer the Biden administration over its policy of rapprochement with Iran and reestablishing ties with the Palestinians that were severed under Trump.

Biden administration has also come under fire for appearing to fail to defend Kurdish Iraqis who were condemned, and reportedly physically threatened, for calling to normalize ties with Israel.

“It is beyond unexplainable that the Biden administration is distancing America from this noble effort of the Iraqi people to normalize relations with Israel. We should pray for their efforts, not shun them,” former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted in response to a statement by the US-led coalition to defeat ISIS that denied knowledge of the calls for normalization.

Pompeo, one of the architects of the accords and a potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate, will be in Jerusalem next week to celebrate their one-year anniversary with Israeli officials. 

Also in attendance will be Trump's son-in-law and former special adviser Jared Kushner, who was integral in shaping the deal, along with former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, who will be inaugurating the “Friedman Center for Peace through Strength” to coincide with the celebrations.

The Abraham Accords were first announced in August 2020 as a breakthrough in normalization between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, marking the first Arab country to establish relations with Israel in more than two decades, since Jordan in 1994.

Bahrain was the second country to sign on to the deals followed by pronouncements from Sudan and Morocco to deepen ties with Israel.

“I have to say that it exceeded my expectations,” Ghaith al-Omari, a senior fellow with the Washington Institute who served as an adviser on Palestinian negotiations between 1999 and 2001, said of the success of the accords.   

“Relations are going strong, embassies are being formally established, economic relations are just only growing … certainly we’re seeing a momentum," he added.

While the trigger for the UAE recognizing Israel was an effort to preserve Palestinian national aspirations — securing a commitment by Israel to halt plans for annexation green-lighted by the Trump administration — al-Omari said that the deepening ties with Abu Dhabi and the subsequent agreements with Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco show how far the Palestinian issue has fallen from the agenda of Arab and Muslim countries.

“In the end it’s invalidated the old paradigm that Israeli peace with the Arabs has to go first with the Palestinian track. These are all transformations,” he said.

Yet including issues related to the Palestinians with prospective Abraham Accord partners could present an opportunity for the Biden administration to secure a key signatory like Saudi Arabia, and move forward its commitments to improving the situation for Palestinians in general, said Michael Koplow, Policy Director of the Israel Policy Forum, a research and policy advocacy organization.

Saudi Arabia, which the Trump administration touted as being close to signing on to the accords, has resisted so far, insisting that normalization with Israel is contingent on Palestinian statehood.

“If countries that normalize with Israel keep this in mind,” Koplow continued. “To say to Israelis, ‘listen there are things [with the Palestinians] that make it harder for us to normalize, and if you stop some of these things, then more agreements can be had’ — that’s a model that we’ve seen work once already and I think it's likely to keep on going.”

The Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2021, sponsored by Rep. Brad Schneider in the House and Sen. Rob Portman in the Senate, calls for the State Department to assess how the Abraham Accords “advance prospects for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.”

“The Biden administration has been tepid — to be charitable — on moving forward,” Koplow said. “One challenge is that the model that the Trump administration developed is simply not wise for the United States.”

The Trump administration came under intense scrutiny by both Republicans and Democrats over the basis of the agreements reached with the UAE, Sudan and Morocco.

This included selling F-35 advanced fighter jets and other military sales to Abu Dhabi, removing Sudan from the State Sponsor of Terrorism List, and recognizing Morocco’s claim to the contested territory of Western Sahara.

While the Biden team has allowed the F-35 sale to proceed, it has done little to address the status of Western Sahara for Morocco, or Sudan’s role in the Abraham Accords, which has yet to officially sign the agreement.

While Biden has put forth the possibility of a Washington visit for Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok — raised during a call with national security adviser Jake Sullivan — a high level Sudanese diplomat said they are waiting for the official invitation.

Bonnie Glick, who served as Deputy Administrator of the US Agency for International Development during the Trump administration, called finalizing Sudan’s participation as a “low-hanging-fruit opportunity to have an impact on a Muslim country that needs our help.”

“Sudan probably took the biggest risk of any country that’s signed on to the accords. This is a brand-new government that came to power by toppling an Islamist autocracy,” she said.

“You have a military government that’s trying to transition to a civilian government, and they took a calculated risk and said, ‘We’re going to sign the Abraham Accords.’ And since the Biden administration came in, there has been silence on the Sudan component in particular.”

Biden officials say they are engaged in efforts to expand the accords by adding in new countries. Secretary of State Antony Blinken last month hosted a Zoom call with his counterparts in Israel, the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco celebrating the one-year anniversary of the accords.

“This administration will continue to build on the successful efforts of the last administration to keep normalization marching forward,” Blinken said.

But al-Omari, of the Washington Institute, criticized this event as “muted.”

“It is a fact that the Biden administration has not been, very robustly, involved in building on these accords,” he said.

Despite the absence of the Biden administration, ties are deepening between Israel and Gulf states, largely an outgrowth of more than a decade of secret ties over concerns of Iran’s ambitions in the region and, following normalization, excitement over increased economic opportunities and security initiatives.

Israel is touting as a landmark achievement its pavilion in Dubai at the World Expo; direct flights and exchanges of hundreds of thousands of its citizens with the UAE; and raising the possibility that Oman could be the next country to join the accords.

“We have, I believe, created a change of dynamics and a change of attitude in the Middle East and in the region,” Eliav Benjamin, Head of the Bureau of the Middle East and Peace Process Division at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a briefing with reporters Wednesday.

This paradigm shift between Israel and its neighbors, Benjamin continued, is about “being much more pragmatic and practical on dealing with issues that we have at hand.”