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What\u2019s behind the Arab-Islamic ministerial tour of UNSC states? | News<\/p>\n
Beirut, Lebanon \u2013<\/strong> A delegation of Islamic and Arab nations are on a tour of the five permanent United Nations Security Council member states.<\/p>\n Their stated goal is to bring a ceasefire to the war on Gaza, allow more humanitarian aid to reach the people there and ask the five council members to support the Palestinians in achieving an independent state.<\/p>\n But experts are divided on the efficacy and format of this trip.<\/p>\n The delegation, formed at a summit of the Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Riyadh, includes representatives from Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Nigeria, the Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the secretary-general of the OIC. It rejects Israel\u2019s claim that its assault on Gaza is in self-defence.<\/p>\n On October 7, Hamas attacks in southern Israel killed about 1,200 people. About 240 people were taken captive. Since then, Israel has killed more than 14,500 Palestinians. At least 6,000 were children.<\/p>\n The delegation has a packed schedule and started its tour in China, where it met with Wang Yi, China\u2019s top diplomat, on Monday in Beijing.<\/p>\n Starting with China surprised analysts who speculated on what the delegation was trying to signal to Western powers. Some were less concerned with that and questioned the delegation\u2019s true agenda.<\/p>\n \u201cIn diplomacy, it is a well-known strategy: When you don\u2019t want to do anything, try to involve the maximum of actors,\u201d Gerard Araud, former French ambassador to Israel, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. \u201cIt takes time, it gives the impression of activity and it is useless.\u201d<\/p>\n Shortly after the delegation began its visit, talk of a humanitarian pause gathered steam, and early on Wednesday, it as announced. The deal was a major talking point for the delegation, and they pushed for a more lasting cessation of hostilities.<\/p>\n The agreement would see Hamas release about 50 women and children for three times as many Palestinian female and child prisoners in Israeli jails.<\/p>\n The announced duration of the pause is four days, over which the captives will be released. Israel also said it would halt fighting for one more day for every \u201cextra\u201d batch of 10 captives Hamas releases.<\/p>\n The meeting in China was followed by one with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday and the UK\u2019s foreign secretary, David Cameron, later in London. Wednesday saw a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.<\/p>\n By starting their trip in China, the Islamic and Arab states may be trying to gather global support to present to nations that have backed Israel so far.<\/p>\n During the meeting, Wang said China being chosen as the first stop is an indication that the countries of the delegation trust China and appreciate the mutual understanding between them.<\/p>\n Robert Mogielnicki, an expert at Georgetown University on Chinese relations with Middle Eastern and North African countries, does not consider the efforts by Saudi Arabia and other Arab states performative as Araud does.<\/p>\n \u201cArab states do not have a tremendous degree of direct leverage. Indirect influence through shaping the global narrative \u2026 and impacting public stances of key global players seem to be an important dimension of their efforts,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n China seemed to welcome the diplomacy with Wang telling the delegation: \u201cChina has always \u2026 firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights and interests,\u201d according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.<\/p>\n \u201cChina has an interest in regional order and preventing economic turbulence,\u201d Arang Keshavarzian, an associate professor of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at New York University, told Al Jazeera.<\/p>\n \u201cI can only assume these leaders are genuinely trying to get China more involved to help end the war, but the reality is that only the US has the necessary leverage over Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n In August, China brokered a peace deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which re-established their diplomatic ties and had analysts saying it was a sign that the Middle East was turning away from the United States as a major ally.<\/p>\n \u201cChina being the first destination visited is a message to the United States,\u201d Randa Slim, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, told Al Jazeera. Saudi Arabia and other Arab states are telling the US, \u201cyou are no longer the sole power in the region,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n Beijing recently also strengthened its relations with non-Western multilateral groups like BRICS, in which it is a member along with four other large emerging economies, and built stronger ties with the Global South in what analysts said are efforts to build a more multipolar world order.<\/p>\n The Saudi-Iran deal was a \u201cdiplomatic win for China as it increasingly seeks to present an alternative vision to the US-led global order\u201d, according to a report by the US Institute of Peace.<\/p>\n Arab leaders have complained about US disengagement from the region in recent years. Its policy has largely focused on following former President Donald Trump\u2019s strategy of pushing the Abraham Accords, normalisation agreements between Israel and Arab countries.<\/p>\n Arab leaders \u2013 Egypt and Saudi Arabia in particular \u2013 recently warned US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that this strategy has contributed to instability in the region.<\/p>\n Before October 7, it was widely reported that Saudi Arabia and Israel were on track to normalise relations as well. The deal would have been a major coup for Israel, who, analysts said, has been looking to circumvent working with Palestinians by building agreements with regional powers instead.<\/p>\n Popular mobilisation in support of Palestinians over the past six weeks, particularly in the Middle East, \u201cupended\u201d the \u201cregional dynamics underpinning normalisation processes\u201d, Mogielnicki said.<\/p>\n However, he added: \u201cThe underlying strategic calculations that have supported past normalisation-related efforts are unlikely to disappear entirely.\u201d<\/p>\n Public perception of the US as a staunch ally of Israel \u2013 despite Blinken and other US officials highlighting policies like restoring aid to Palestinians that the Trump administration had cut \u2013 may not change.<\/p>\n Even if Arab states are under no illusion about where the US stands, the visit to China does not indicate a complete loss of faith just yet.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is part of efforts to galvanize global support \u2026 and increase pressure on the Israeli government,\u201d Mogielnicki said.<\/p>\n Regardless of how frustrated they are with the unflinching US support for Israel, Arab leaders know the power to stop the carnage rests with the US.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you want to achieve the objective of getting a ceasefire, you need to speak to the Americans,\u201d Slim said. \u201cThey are the only party [who decides].\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0635\u062f\u0631<\/a>\u2018The impression of activity\u2019?<\/h2>\n
First stop, China<\/h2>\n
\u2018Message to the US\u2019<\/h2>\n
Abraham Accords or bust?<\/h2>\n
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