TUNIS - Arab leaders papered over long-running regional rivalries on Sunday to condemn a US move to recognise Israel's sovereignty over the Syrian Golan Heights and said stability in the Middle East hinged on creating a Palestinian state.
It follows a US move less than four months ago to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a decision that also prompted Arab condemnation. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state in the West Bank and Gaza. Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi said Arab leaders also needed to ensure the international community understood the importance of the Palestinian cause to Arab nations.
RIFTS REMAIN Summit spokesman Mahmoud Al-Khmeiry had said before the summit that Arab states would also repeat a call offering peace with Israel in exchange for occupied Arab lands and would reject any initiative not in line with UN resolutions. King Salman, whose country has long vied with Iran for influence, called for confronting what he called the"aggressive policies of the Iranian regime". He said Iran was interfering in Arab affairs, a charge Tehran has long denied.