October 22, 2017 9 News & Analysis Gulf GCC summit in doubt as Gulf crisis continues The Arab Weekly staff London uwait Emir Sheikh Sa- bah Ahmad al-Jaber al- Sabah’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia was an ef- fort to persuade King KSalman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to attend meetings in Kuwait to save the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) from collapsing because of the crisis with Qatar, Gulf sources said. They said the Saudi position was clear that a summit couldn’t be convened given the current situa- tion. The kingdom, along with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, severed ties with Qatar on June 5 over what they described as Doha’s interference in their coun- tries’ internal affairs and its sup- port for radical groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, designated as a terrorist organisation in all four countries. Kuwait, along with fellow GCC member Oman, has been neutral during the dispute and has been a mediator in the crisis but with little apparent success. The sources added that Riyadh doesn’t believe the GCC will col- lapse if the summit is postponed until the matter is resolved in Qa- tar, either through its acceptance of demands issued by the Arab quartet or a leadership change. Sheikh Sabah and King Salman discussed “regional developments and a number of issues of com- mon concern” during the October 16 meeting, Saudi Arabia’s official Common concerns. Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (R) welcomes Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah in news agency, SPA, reported. Riyadh, on October 16. (Saudi Press Agency) Gulf diplomatic circles said Sheikh Sabah tried to persuade GCC members that the unity of Gulf Cooperation Council, but Qa- The publication’s sources report- The International Institute for the body is more important than tar has become a bad apple that if edly said, if a summit were to be Strategic Studies (IISS), a think- differences that can be overcome not isolated will spoil its surround- called, it would be in Riyadh and tank in London, said the dispute over time. However, the likelihood ings.” that an invitation would not be might have permanently damaged of convincing the quartet appears Reports in Arab media stated extended to Qatar, despite state- the GCC because of “the strident unlikely. that the annual GCC summit, ments by Doha that a Gulf summit nature of the public diplomacy on “The four countries boycott- scheduled for December in Kuwait, couldn’t be held without Qatar. both sides.” ing Qatar, especially Saudi Arabia, might be postponed or relocated to Riyadh doesn’t A Washington-based source told “Qexit — the prospect of Qatar will not accept a compromise with Riyadh. believe the GCC will Elaph that Gulf Arab countries leaving the GCC — has not yet be- Qatar. There is no grey area in this The London-based online pub- collapse if the might form a new council starting come an accepted neologism but it matter,” Saudi researcher Salman lication Elaph reported its sources with three countries whose poli- was openly discussed. The UAE, in al-Ansari said. said a GCC summit in December summit is postponed cies would be unified and aimed at particular, has argued vociferously “Saudi Arabia is undoubtedly was unlikely because the dispute until the matter is working for the benefit and inter- for a new set of relations in the keen on preserving the unity of the continues. resolved in Qatar. ests of the region. Gulf,” IISS said. Yemen’s rebel alliance rift continues to widen as questions arise about ex-president’s health Saleh Baidhani vitation from a Russian think-tank ment between his convoy and the to attend a seminar on Yemen fo- rebels escalated into a shoot-out, cusing on terrorism and Yemen’s local reports said. Sana’a future. Asked whether he would A few days after Saleh’s TV inter- leave Yemen for further medical view, the GPC threatened to end television interview treatment, Saleh said he would its alliance with the Houthis. In a with former Yemeni not. statement, party Secretary-Gen- President Ali Abdullah Dismissing the interview as a eral Arif al-Zouka accused the re- Saleh hinted at his de- farce, Yemeni political analyst bels of monopolising the decision- sire to leave the coun- Faris al-Bel said Saleh convenient- making process, while targeting tryA as his health remains a focus of ly forgot to mention the UN travel ministers, politicians and journal- public concern. ban against him and tried to ap- ists affiliated with the party. The former president looked fa- pear to be a decision-maker, con- Zouka described the acts as “ir- tigued during the short interview. templating whether to participate responsible terrorist practices, He had undergone an operation in the seminar in Russia. intellectually and politically,” in at a Sana’a hospital on October 13 The appearance was Saleh’s first a message on the Aden al-Ghad after a Russian medical team was interview with mainstream Yem- newspaper’s website. flown in to perform it, government eni media since the operation. Re- “This is unequivocal evidence sources said. ports said Saleh’s health had dete- that you do not have a genuine de- In the interview, Saleh said he riorated because of complications sire to keep the partnership unless was considering accepting an in- from a 2011 assassination attempt. you are in full control,” he said in Questions regarding the former the letter addressed to the militia’s president’s health came at a time political council. the alliance between his General Declining player. Yemen’s former President Ali Abdullah The situation should not be a People’s Congress (GPC) and the Saleh (C) is surrounded by guards as he attends a rally in Sana’a, surprise considering that the al- (Reuters) Iran-allied Houthi rebels seems to last August. liance between the two factions be deteriorating. is a marriage of convenience and In 2015, three years after step- The former president has, for Tensions between the two fac- that there is a long, bloody his- ping down as Yemen’s president, all practical purposes, been under tions escalated after both held ral- tory between the Houthis and the Saleh’s party accused Saleh joined forces with his for- house arrest since August 24. A lies that ended in clashes. The al- GPC. The last decade of Saleh’s 34 the Houthis of mer enemies and together they Yemeni politician said this was a tercations in Sana’a resulted in the years as Yemen’s president saw his “irresponsible terrorist seized Sana’a, forcing the interna- turning point for Saleh, and that death of Colonel Khaled al-Radhi, government constantly at war with tionally recognised gov ernment threats to him and his family have a member of Saleh’s inner circle the Iran-allied militia. practices, to flee. That ignited the current made him seriously consider leav- and the GPC’s vice-president of ex- intellectually and war, which has claimed more than ing Sana’a for the first time since ternal relations. Radhi was killed at Saleh Baidhani is an Arab Weekly politically.” 10,000 lives, UN estimates state. his return in September 2011. a Houthi checkpoint after an argu- contributor in Sana’a..