Syrian Media Doubt Arab States will Unite on Gaza

Talk of Arab leaders mending fences over Israel’s Gaza offensive may be premature, according to various accounts in the Syrian media.



In an opinion article in the pro-government newspaper Al-Watan, journalist Ziad Haidar disputed claims that reconciliation was under way. He criticised a final statement issued by the Arab Economic Summit in Kuwait, which made no mention of the proceeding Doha summit or the actions of Syrian leaders.



There is little chance of any real rapprochement until differences on key issues are resolved, Haidar wrote.



Asad Abboud, editor-in-chief of the official newspaper Al-Thawra, expressed similar scepticism.



Elias Murad, editor of Al-Baath, asserted that Syria would press ahead on issues discussed in Qatar, including President Bashar al-Assad’s assertion that a 2002 peace initiative backed by the entire 22-member Arab League was no longer valid.