Global Geopolitical Series: Mark your calendars for Arab League summit on Gaza violence on 17th May

Mark your calendars for a crucial Arab League meeting on 17th may 2018, Thursday. The meeting was called by Saudi Arabia over the recent spark of violence in Gaza, where Israeli soldiers have been accused of killing scores of Palestinian protesters who have been trying for weeks to illegally cross the Gaza border into Israel to claim what they call is the land, which is rightfully theirs and illegally occupied by Israel. Palestinians claim that yesterday’s violence was one of the deadliest in years, where as many as 60 protesters have been killed. However, Israel claims only 2 died. Though Saudi Arabia condemned Israel over the violence, their common ally, the United States has blamed Hamas for the mess.  

 The meeting, would be closely watched as it directly relates to President Donald Trump’s peace efforts in the Middle East and a joint move by the Arab League might sour the upper hand, the Israelis have enjoyed since Trump announced the decision to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in December last year.

Previously it was highlighted that both Saudi Arabia and Egypt have agreed to accept Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Arab League has 22 member states (Algeria, Jordon, Oman, Syria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Palestine, Tunisia, Comoros, Lebanon, Qatar, UAE, Djibouti, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Mauritania, Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Morocco, and Sudan) and 5 observer states (Brazil, Armenia, India, Eritrea, and Venezuela).