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Former Kuwaiti Minister of Information Sami Al-Nesf said in a September 12, 2020 interview on Diwan Al-Mullah Online TV (Kuwait) that with regard to relations with Israel, the Gulf states have prioritized their own interests over those of others. In addition, he said that the Palestinian leaders want to keep their cause intact, even though it would serve Palestinian interests to benefit from the money and oil reserves of the Gulf.
Sami Al-Nesf: "I think that the Gulf states, for the first time – and they are always trailblazers in their decisions – prefer their own interests over the interests of others. We all remember how the Gulf states [supported] the Palestinian cause. Kuwait even sent two brigades [in the 1973 war] – one to the Syrian front and one to the Egyptian front. But in 1990, we discovered the bitter truth that those whom we have supported didn't even take a neutral stand – they turned against us and against their own interests.
[...]
"For the first time, the Gulf states are looking out for their own interests. We know that Qatar established relations [with Israel]. We know that the UAE and Bahrain acknowledged [relations with Israel]. Oman hosted the Israeli Prime Minister. Even Saudi Arabia allows Israeli airplanes to fly over it. All these countries developed their interests... Only Kuwait remains, and I believe that it will find itself in a very awkward position.
"After the populist loudmouths will have spoken... I am not talking about official Kuwait, which is reasonable. [Foreign Minister] Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammed is an educated and reasonable man. I am talking about those who raise the banner of 'Palestine – we are coming!' but neither them or their sons actually go there. They want to liberate Palestine to the last Palestinian child and building. These are the people who will put Kuwait into a bind.
"If Kuwait is asked to follow the path of the other five Gulf states, what is it going to do? Is it going to say 'no' to America for the sake of those who stood against us in 1990? Or, after all has been said, we will see that Kuwait takes the reasonable path, the path of the Gulf states. It is inconceivable that five Gulf states take a certain path, and we say that we are taking a different path.
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"What is really in the best interest of the Palestinians? Leave aside the [Palestinian] leadership that cannot resolve the problem. The victory of the Palestinian cause will spell the defeat of the Palestinian leaders, because their interest is to keep the 'cause' intact. What will the Palestinian people gain if they will not be able to benefit from the money, oil reserves, and investments of the Gulf states?
"In addition, when there will be normalization, within the framework of recognition or peace, money will enter Palestine and benefit the Palestinians – in Gaza, in Ramallah, in Hebron, and in other places, which are all stricken by unemployment.
"Moreover, this year, for the first time since 1950, the U.S. decided to stop its support for UNRWA – 700 million [dollars] is not insignificant. And now, the leaders, who only look after their own interests and not their people's, want to harm their relations with the Gulf states. Who will you have left? The little money that is entering Gaza, Ramallah, Jerusalem, and other places, is coming from the Gulf.
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"Today, there are 300,000-400,000 Palestinian [workers] in the UAE alone. These [workers] support millions in the West Bank and Gaza. Do you want to harm their relations [with the UAE]? This is a sovereign decision taken by the UAE. Just as it is hosting these hundreds of thousands, it can say 'no more.'"
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