Ashraf AboArafe
Today, Thursday, March 14, at the headquarters of the League’s General Secretariat, Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States (LAS), received Mr. José Manuel Albarez, Minister of Foreign Affairs (FA) of the Kingdom of Spain, who is currently visiting Cairo as part of a tour of the region. Albaris delivered a speech before the Arab League Council at the level of permanent delegates, focusing on the war on Gaza and the priority of the ceasefire.
Jamal Rushdi, the official spokesman for the Secretary-General, stated that Aboul Gheit discussed with the Spanish Foreign Minister the latest developments regarding the devastation in Gaza, where the Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for Spain’s firm position in support of Palestinian rights since the beginning of the brutal war waged by Israel on the Gaza Strip, stressing that This position reflected Madrid’s commitment to the principles, common human values, and justice in which it believes.
Aboul Gheit also stressed that the Israeli massacre has reached an unprecedented extent as a direct result of the green light given by some Western countries to practice aggression and murder under the name of the right to self-defense, which is a right that is absolutely unacceptable for an occupying power to possess.
The official spokesman explained that the Spanish Foreign Minister was keen, in turn, to value his country’s strong relations with the Arab countries, stressing the priority of an immediate and sustainable ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, preserving unity and geographical connection between Gaza and the West Bank under the leadership of the Palestinian Authority, and working to establish an independent Palestinian state. As soon as possible.
The spokesman said that the Spanish minister confirmed his country’s intention to recognize the Palestinian state soon, while Secretary-General Aboul Gheit urged him to show Spain’s leadership in this direction within the European Union, stressing that recognizing Palestine and accepting it as a full member of the United Nations represents an important step towards achieving the two-state solution. Spain previously played a historic role for peace within the framework of the Madrid Process.
The spokesman added that Aboul Gheit and Albaris discussed the idea of holding an international peace conference hosted by Spain, where the Secretary-General of the League stressed the necessity of joint action at the Arab and European levels, and with all other parties, to transform this idea into reality as soon as possible to achieve the two-state solution and find a political horizon for the Palestinians. In the next stage. 
He added that the Spanish guest’s speech before the Arab delegates accredited to the Arab League was clear in its rejection of the continuation of the Israeli war, and in the necessity of introducing aid in large quantities, urgently and sustainably into Gaza, and rejecting forced displacement and standing against a supposed Israeli operation on Rafah, all of which are positions that are appreciated by the Arabs.
