The Negev Forum Steering Committee and Working Groups convened in Abu Dhabi on 9 – 10 January 2023, to prepare for the upcoming Ministerial meeting to prepare the Negev Forum to be held in Morocco as reported on VonNaftali.
As a reminder, the background again: The historic, inaugural ‘Negev Summit’ that took place at Sde Boker in the Negev of Israel on March 27-28, 2022, with the participation of the Foreign Ministers of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Morocco, the United States of America and hosted by the State of Israel, sent a strong message of peace based on principles of dialogue, coexistence, and mutual respect within the spirit of Abraham Accords.
Result was the establishment of the ‘Negev Forum’. Purpose of the ‘Negev Forum’ is to expand regional economic and security integration for Israel and its Arab allies. The common threat is the islamic Mullah regime of Iran.
The preparation for the next Negev Forum Summit in Morocco is done within three sessions aka meetings hosted by UAE: The Negev Forum Steering Committee. Basic document is the ‘Negev Forum Regional Cooperation Framework Document‘, adopted on 10 November 2022.
The Working Groups discussed opportunities to promote prosperity and cooperation for the benefit of the region and its inhabitants, in the areas under their mandate.
Such opportunities included areas such as food security and water technology, clean energy, tourism, healthcare, education and coexistence, and regional security, in accordance to the objectives outlined in the Negev Forum Regional Cooperation Framework Document. The Working Groups will continue to meet in advance of the Ministerial meeting, with other words, no surprise or frictions, said the press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of UAE.
Hence, Alon Ushpiz, Director General of the Ministry of Finance (Israel) said on Twitter: “Thank you to the dedicated and hard working colleagues on the #NegevForum steering committee for another successful gathering”. The Israeli delegation, led by MFA Director General @AlonUshpiz, includes representatives of the ministries of agriculture, health, security, intelligence, tourism, energy, education, the economy, the Water Authority and the National Security Council.
Iran, “Palestinians” and US State Department
The ‘New Arab News‘ wrote about the pink elephant in the room as was mentioned on VonNaftali too: “The six working groups that met over two days this week covered regional security, clean energy, food and water security, health, tourism, and education and coexistence. Though Iran was not mentioned in the telephonic briefing, this regional cooperation gathering is understood to be a united security front against Iran.”
The US State Department hold a telephonic briefing on the Negev Forum this week with Israel and its Western-backed allies. The US State Department would welcome the so-called “Palestinians, but nobody seems to have a clue how this can be.
In all other statements of the participating states – so far on the desk of VonNaftali – none of the Arab states took a move to include the so-called “Palestinians”. They are neither a state nor a nation and the only success story they have is to say No and it is totally unclear who can speak on behalf of the so-called “Palestinians”. There is no legitimate aka democratically elected entity on behalf of the so-called “Palestinians”. Fact.
It seems to be that only the Biden-administration sets a pledge to incorporate the so-called “Palestinians”. The islamic terrororganization ‘Hamas’ – a proxy of the Mullah regime of Iran – already rejected the ‘Negev Forum’ as a sin, as i24News reports.
The blog ‘elderofziyon” wrote why the so-called “Palestinians” won’t partake: “But the Negev Forum accepts Israel as a permanent part of the Middle East. It isn’t marginalized – it is a key player. And the Palestinians cannot stomach the idea that Israel itself is considered legitimate. Palestinians cannot hijack this conference. So boycotting, and shaming Jordan to do the same, it meant to somehow injure the conference altogether.
This has nothing to do with settlements, or human rights, or international law. The Palestinians refuse to attend a regional forum where they would benefit because it accepts Israel’s existence – and Palestinian leaders still hope Israel will disappear. Their childish behavior here is further proof that they have no interest in peace or becoming a responsible state. The entire purpose of the Palestinian national movement has always been the destruction of Israel.“
An additional side issue was also the question of the participation of Jordan. On behalf of the US State Department, Derek Chollet, said the Kingdom of Jordan is welcome to join, though he didn’t provide any details on how this would work in the context of regional tensions, according to New Arab News.
In general Antony Blinken, Secretary of State summarized authoritative the position of the USA to the outcomes of the Steering Committees in particular and the ‘Negev Forum’ at large.”
In the press release Antony Blinken said further: “The Framework affirmed that these relations can be harnessed to create momentum in Israeli-Palestinian relations, towards a negotiated resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and as part of efforts to achieve a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace. The United States will continue to work with our partners in the region to promote and implement this vision, including at the upcoming Negev Forum Ministerial.“
And on Twitter Blinken wrote that the ‘Negev Forum’ is a strategic priority: “The Negev Forum and our partners in the Middle East have achieved important progress. Advancing regional cooperation and integration is a strategic priority for the United States.“
The ‘Jerusalem Post’ headlines: “Negev Forum not a substitute for Israeli-Palestinian peace, US says”. However, according to the Negev Forum Regional Cooperation Framework Document‘, adopted on 10 November 2022, the “Palestinian” issue is an issue. Of course, it is not a substitute, but very close to it, since all negotiations failed because the Palestinian terrorist organizations reject peace. Basically.
To quote from the ‘Negev Forum Regional Cooperation Framework Document’: “The Participants also affirmed that these relations can be harnessed to create momentum in Israeli-Palestinian relations, towards a negotiated resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and as part of efforts to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.”
Again, so-called “Palestinians” say NO. No surprise. However, the caravan moves on towards cooperation, peace and economic prosperity. Once again those people are the losers who are under the yoke of the islamist terrorist organizations like Hamas and PA.
Ambassador Michael Herzog wrote on Twitter summarizing the general positiv outlook: “Another successful #NegevForum concluded today. This gathering in the UAE was a landmark for advancing regional partnership & cooperation through professional working groups. We look forward to continuing this important work with our allies & friends to the benefit of our region.“
Jake Sullivan, White House National Security Advisor to the US-President, wrote on Twitter: “We’re building an integrated, secure, prosperous Middle East. Real progress this week in UAE, where experts from advanced cooperation in food/water security, clean energy, health, education, regional security, & promoting tolerance. #NegevForum““
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