Kuwait reiterates anti-normalisation stance after Trump statement sparks controversy

Kuwait will not normalise with Israel, a report cited officials as saying, after Trump claimed the country was willing to join its so-called 'peace deal'.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab Staff

21 September, 2020

Kuwait's Al-Qabas newspaper cited unnamed officials denying comments made by Trump on Friday [Getty]

Kuwaiti government sources said the gulf country had no intention to normalise ties Israel after US President Donald Trump made controversial remarks claiming "the emir" was looking forward to joining the so-called "peace deal".

Kuwaiti Al-Qabas newspaper cited unnamed officials denying comments made by Trump on Friday, after the US president met with the Kuwaiti ruler's son Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

"They are so excited that we signed the first two countries that I think they will end up fairly quickly being a part of it," Trump claimed afte

"Senior government sources have reiterated that Kuwait's stance on normalisation with the occupation has not changed, and that Kuwait is firm in its position, and it would be the last country to normalise with the Zionist entity," Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Qabas wrote.

Meanwhile, the US said it "will not force" any country to establish relations with Israel, but hopes the region would establish relations with Tel Aviv, a report by Al-Khaleej Al-Jadeed said on Monday.

Arab countries that so far normalised relations with Israel did that of their own accord, Geraldine Gassam Griffith, a US Department of State Arabic Language Spokesperson, said.

Griffith's comments were made in light of deals signed by UAE and Bahrain with Israel at the White House, under a US-brokered so-called "peace deal" that is fiercely rejected by Palestinians.

The deals broke decades of Arab consensus that there would be no relations with Israel until it reached an agreement with Palestinians. More countries, including Oman and Sudan are expected to follow suit, while Qatar and Algeria have opposed the deal, calling to establish a Palestinian state first.

"We respect the sovereignty of all countries in the region and the United States will not force any country to establish relations with Israel," Griffith said.

Asked about Trump's comments on Kuwait, Griffith said: "We certainly hope that we will see all countries in the region cooperate with each other, and that there will be relations between them and [Israel]."

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay connected