Qatar denies Israel participation in Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting

Qatar Shura Council Speaker, Ahmed bin Abdullah Bin Zaid Al-Mahmoud, affirmed that Israel will not participate in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)’s 140th General Assembly meeting which will be hosted by the State of Qatar from 6-10 April.

Al-Mahmoud told reporters in Doha that all the necessary arrangements have been completed to hold the meeting.

According to Al-Mahmoud more than 2,200 participants from more than 160 countries will participate in the upcoming meeting, noting that this is the largest participation in such a meeting outside the union’s headquarters in Geneva.

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Remarking on the participation of countries that boycott Qatar in the meetings, Al- Mahmoud said only Egypt has confirmed its participation, while Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain have yet to. However, the Qatari official noted that the Union does not require anyone of its members to participate in its meetings.

Al-Mahmoud added that the issue of providing international protection for the Palestinian people could be raised during the meeting.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic ties with Qatar and imposed a land and air blockade on Doha accusing it of “sponsoring terrorism” in 2017. Doha strenuously denies the charges.