The Arab League has dismissed the possibility of convening an extraordinary Arab summit, as sought by Qatar to discuss the Gaza bloodshed, without the consent of two-thirds of the member states. Ambasador Hisham Yusuf, Director of the Office of the Arab League's Secretary General, said Algeria, Syria, Sudan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Palestine and Somalia have agreed to attend the proposed summit in Doha ahead of a scheduled economic summit in Kuwait on Jan 20. But Egypt, which is engaged in hectic diplomatic efforts to push a ceasefire plan, has notified Doha that it would not attend the Qatari summit. When asked whether there was any conflict in convening the extraordinary summit, Yusuf said the Kuwait summit under the auspices of the Arab League was scheduled a year ago. He said deteriorating situation in Gaza is expected to be raised in Kuwait and that it was premature to decide on whether an extraordinary summit would be held or not. Arab diplomatic sources in Cairo said Arab leaders are inclined to holding a special session prior to their economic summit to discuss Gaza issue. The sources said the time factor was a factor since the proposal is to hold the Doha summit two days prior to the meeting in Kuwait.. Speaking about Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's visit Tuesday to the Kingdom, Yusuf said, “The League supports any Arab movement that would help put an end to the Israeli hostilities in Gaza.” He noted that Riyadh and Cairo have played a vital role in the ceasefire resolution adopted by the United Nations Security Council last week. Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa was to meet UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Cairo on Tuesday before leaving for Kuwait to take part in the preparatory meeting for the Jan. 20 summit. Nabeel Abu Rdana, Palestinian Presidency, spokesman said that President Mahmoud Abbas has welcomed the Qatari invitation to attend the proposed emergency meeting, and that Palestinians are all for Arab unity and any effort to stop Israel's barbaric attacks.
