July 8 (THEWILL) — Israel has barred Arab League Secretary-General, Nabil Fahmy, from entering the occupied West Bank, preventing the regional bloc’s new leader from making what was expected to be his first official foreign visit to the Palestinian territory since assuming office.
THEWILL reports that Fahmy was scheduled to visit Ramallah on Wednesday for meetings with Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and senior Palestinian officials as part of a solidarity mission intended to reaffirm the Arab League’s support for the Palestinian people and their leadership.
In a statement issued by the Arab League Secretariat, Fahmy said Palestinian authorities informed the organisation that Israeli authorities had refused to grant approval for his entry into the occupied Palestinian territories, effectively forcing the cancellation of the visit.
The Arab League said the trip had been deliberately chosen as Fahmy’s first official overseas mission after taking office on July 1 to underscore that the Palestinian cause remains at the heart of the organisation’s priorities.
According to the regional body, the decision prevented Fahmy from conveying the Arab League’s support directly to the Palestinian leadership at a time of heightened regional tensions and ongoing conflict.
The organisation criticised Israel’s action, describing it as another example of the restrictions imposed on movement in the occupied West Bank. It also expressed concern over what it called the continued deterioration of conditions in the Palestinian territories, including the expansion of Israeli settlements and increasing violence by extremist settlers.
The planned visit comes amid growing international concern over the humanitarian and security situation in the Palestinian territories, as diplomatic efforts to revive peace negotiations remain stalled.
Neither the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office nor the Israeli Foreign Ministry immediately issued an official explanation for the reported decision to deny Fahmy access to Ramallah.
Fahmy, a veteran Egyptian diplomat and former foreign minister, succeeded Ahmed Aboul Gheit as Secretary-General of the Arab League after being unanimously endorsed by member states. Since assuming office, he has pledged to intensify Arab diplomatic engagement on the Palestinian issue and strengthen regional coordination in support of Palestinian statehood..
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