The Arab League has underlined the importance of the ministerial meeting of the Arab Peace Initiative Committee, due to be held in Doha tomorrow at the request of the Palestinian Authority to discuss developments and all aspects of the Palestinian issue in the shadow of the stalled peace process.

Arab League deputy secretary general Ahmed bin Helli said in a statement to reporters yesterday that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will participate in the meeting which will discuss the Palestinian and Arab moves in the shadow of the stumbling peace process and Israel’s insistence on its Judaisation and settlement schemes and its failure to respond to calls for the release of Palestinian detainees.

He explained that these matters needed an Arab collective position ahead of meetings of the UN General Assembly, scheduled in September.

The second theme which will be discussed by the Ministerial Committee is the financial crisis faced by the Palestinian Authority,” said bin Hilli, confirming that there were financial obligations on the Arab states towards the Palestinian Authority that must be met in order to carry out its functions.

He pointed out that the Palestinian president would consult with Arab foreign ministers who are members of the committee on the Palestinian endeavour to obtain the full membership of the global organisation after the failure last year to obtain the UN full membership.

The president will provide Arab foreign ministers with a full report on the results of his contacts and consultations with various regional and international parties in the light of Israel’s failure to respond to his letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu on the demands of the Palestinians for the resumption of the stalled negotiations, said bin Hilli.