Dr. Dalal Erekat: Trump, in his recent statements, used “coercive diplomacy” as a pressure tool to lower the ceiling of Arab and Palestinian expectations regarding future solutions

Dr. Saad Nimr: Adhering to the Arab position rejecting displacement is a positive step, but that is not enough without a clear strategic vision that guarantees the Palestinians their rights

Sulaiman Basharat: The meeting will define the general features of the Arab vision that will form the roadmap for the next stage, making it a very important strategic step.

Dr. Walaa Qadimat: A real test of the extent of Arab countries’ commitment to proposing practical solutions that guarantee the rejection of displacement and the protection of the Palestinian cause from liquidation attempts

Dr. Amr Hussein: A major station for formulating a unified Arab position to confront the displacement plan and working on formulating a comprehensive plan that will be presented to the White House

Daoud Kuttab: The Riyadh Summit aims primarily to secure the necessary financial resources to rebuild Gaza.. and the speed and efficiency of construction with Arab support is the strongest response to displacement

The Riyadh Summit will be held today, Friday, with the participation of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, in addition to Egypt and Jordan, as an important diplomatic station in the path of Arab efforts aimed at confronting the challenges facing the Palestinian cause, most notably the dangers of forced displacement of Palestinians.

In separate interviews with “I”, writers, political analysts, specialists and university professors believe that this summit comes within the framework of completing the Arab diplomatic path that began since the outbreak of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, as the participating countries seek to formulate a unified Arab position that rejects any plans aimed at changing the demographic reality in Palestine.

According to writers, analysts, specialists and university professors, the summit is considered a test of the ability of Arab countries to translate their positions rejecting displacement into actual and binding policies that go beyond political statements to clear implementation mechanisms.

The expectations of writers, analysts, specialists and university professors indicate that the summit will seek to present a practical alternative for managing the situation in Gaza, including a detailed plan for reconstruction and management of the sector in the “post-war” phase.

They stress that the Riyadh Summit is a preemptive step to confront the American and Israeli plans that seek to impose new facts on the ground, and to confront any attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause or impose coercive solutions that serve Israeli interests.

Riyadh Summit comes within the framework of completing the Arab diplomatic path

Dr. Dalal Araikat, Professor of Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at the Arab American University, explains that the expanded Riyadh summit today, Friday, with the participation of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, in addition to Egypt and Jordan, comes within the framework of completing the Arab diplomatic path that began since the outbreak of the Israeli aggression on Gaza.

Erekat points out that this summit comes as part of regional and international efforts aimed at protecting the Palestinian people and preventing forced displacement scenarios.

Erekat points out that Arab and international pressures succeeded in stopping the catastrophic scenario of the direct forced displacement of Palestinians, but the gradual displacement is still ongoing, which requires sustainable practical steps to confront it.

She stresses that what we are witnessing today are ongoing attempts to impose a new reality on the ground, through expanding Israeli settlements, destroying infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and creating an unlivable environment, which is forcibly pushing Palestinians towards migration, which is another form of undeclared forced displacement.

Erekat believes that the outcomes of the Riyadh Summit will be a real test of the ability of Arab countries to translate their positions rejecting displacement into actual and binding policies, going beyond political statements to clear executive mechanisms that prevent the reproduction of displacement scenarios in any form.

Erekat explains that the Arab countries are required to present a practical alternative to the Trump administration, which includes a detailed plan that is preferred for their vision of the “day after” stage in Gaza, in order to convince the American administration of an alternative plan that prevents displacement and annexation and the realization of the “Greater Israel” project, which eliminates the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.

Erekat stresses that despite the clarity of the Arab positions in rejecting displacement and emphasizing the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, the absence of the Palestinians from the meeting raises questions about the possibility of scenarios being prepared for the "day after" stage outside the framework of the Palestinian Authority and the Hamas movement.

Erekat points out that these scenarios may include new security arrangements, such as the presence of joint Arab or European security forces to administer Gaza, which requires clarity and coordination with the Palestinian leadership to ensure that it is not bypassed in any future arrangements.

Erekat stresses the need for the Riyadh summit to present a detailed, written, and practical alternative that is applicable and forms the basis for a comprehensive political solution, as this alternative must be more realistic and acceptable than any previous displacement plans, such as the Trump plan that was previously proposed to manage Gaza affairs.

Erekat calls for reading US President Donald Trump's recent statements in the context of "coercive diplomacy," as he uses them as a pressure tool to lower Arab and Palestinian expectations regarding future solutions.

Erekat explains that the threat of displacement comes as a tactic to make the Palestinians and Arabs feel the seriousness of the situation and push them towards making political concessions, in conjunction with expected normalization arrangements, which Saudi Arabia may be at the forefront of.

She points out that Saudi Arabia stands in a complex strategic position in light of the Trump administration, as it is at the same time leading the international coalition to implement the two-state solution.

Erekat stresses the need to exploit this role to push the international community towards a just and comprehensive solution that protects Palestinian rights and prevents any attempts to bypass them under any pretext.

Great political importance of Riyadh and Cairo summits

Dr. Saad Nimr, a professor of political science at Birzeit University, confirms that the mini-Arab summit in Riyadh is of great political importance, but it is not the most prominent event, as the emergency Arab summit in Cairo is the most sensitive, as it will put the Egyptian plan for dealing with the situation in Gaza on the discussion table before the concerned Arab countries.

Nimr believes that the emergency summit in Cairo will be decisive in formulating the joint Arab position regarding Gaza, as the Egyptian plan will be officially presented.

Nimr explains that this plan is based on the principle of rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinians, a position agreed upon by all Arab countries, but it raises fundamental questions about the next steps, especially with regard to managing the sector after the war.

Nimr confirms that the leaks about the Egyptian plan indicate the possibility of deploying Arab forces to supervise the security situation in Gaza, in addition to disarming the Hamas movement, which may receive American approval in exchange for a commitment to reject the displacement.

He points out that these issues are being raised as part of a political bargain, as the United States and Israel seek to impose a new reality in Gaza without allowing the situation to return to what it was before the war.

Nimr confirms that the Arab countries are aware of the danger of the American-Israeli plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza, especially Egypt and Jordan, which will be the most affected by any waves of mass migration.

He points out that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously hinted at the possibility of transferring the residents of Gaza to Saudi Arabia, which explains the Arab consensus rejecting the displacement as an existential threat to the region.

Nimr explains that the summit will try to find an alternative solution to the displacement plan, but the basic question remains: What is this alternative?

Will the Arab countries accept the imposition of a joint Arab-Palestinian administration over Gaza? Will they be able to convince the United States and Israel that this option ensures security and stability without the need to displace the population?

He points out that the Arab position must be firm in rejecting displacement without any conditions or compromises, and not merely searching for alternatives that are in line with the American vision.

According to Nimr, the Arab summit will depend largely on the results of the meeting in Riyadh. If an Arab consensus is reached on the Egyptian plan, it is likely to be officially adopted, even if some countries, such as Algeria or others, object to some of its details.

Nimr stresses that agreeing to reject forced displacement does not necessarily mean reaching a just and fair solution for the Palestinians, but may be merely a tactical move to pass other solutions that satisfy the United States and Israel.

Nimr stresses that the central issue is not only in rejecting displacement, but in determining what comes after the rejection, i.e. how Gaza will be managed politically and security-wise, who will bear responsibility for reconstruction, and what are the guarantees to prevent the imposition of coercive solutions on the Palestinians that serve Israeli interests.

He believes that the meeting in Riyadh is the key to what will happen later at the Arab Summit, where the ability of Arab countries to impose their own vision, without submitting to American and Israeli pressure, will be tested.

Nimr stresses that adhering to the Arab position rejecting displacement is a positive step, but it is not sufficient if it is not accompanied by a clear strategic vision that guarantees the Palestinians their rights to self-determination without external interference.

An Arab attempt to address the current political situation

Writer and political analyst Suleiman Basharat asserts that the Arab summit being held in Riyadh is of great importance, not only for its sensitive timing, but also for the nature of the topic for which it was called, which is to discuss “Trump’s vision” for the Palestinian issue and address Middle East issues.

Basharat points out that the summit comes within the framework of an Arab attempt to address the current political situation and block what the United States and Israel may seek in the next stage.

Basharat explains that the speed of holding the summit reflects the desire of Arab leaders not to leave a political or temporal vacuum that Washington and Tel Aviv could exploit to impose visions or solutions that do not take into account the Arab position or the needs of the peoples of the region.

"The summit does not want to give a time frame that might allow for the imposition of a unilateral American-Israeli vision, which is what makes this step preemptive and important," Basharat says.

Basharat believes that the expanded Arab summit in Cairo, which will follow the Riyadh meeting, is largely protocol-based, while the Riyadh summit comes as a practical step aimed at formulating a unified Arab vision that can be adopted and activated if the appropriate conditions are available.

A proactive step to draw the features of the alternative Arab vision

Basharat points out that the Riyadh Summit includes the active parties directly concerned with the political repercussions of the Palestinian issue, which makes it a proactive step to draw the features of the alternative Arab vision.

Basharat stressed that the decisions that will come out of the Riyadh summit will form the basic ground and agenda for the discussions that will take place at the expanded Arab summit, if it is held.

Basharat says: “The Riyadh Summit will determine the general features of the Arab vision that will form the roadmap for the next stage, which makes it a very important strategic step.”

Basharat points out that the summit, even if its decisions have not been announced directly or clearly yet, will set the basic points for any future Arab position or decision regarding the Palestinian issue.

Basharat says: “The summit will present an alternative Arab vision to the American-Israeli plan, and it is an attempt to block the American position that ignores Arab and Palestinian rights.”

Although Basharat acknowledges that it is not possible to confirm the success of this Arab vision or fully define its features at this stage, he stresses that the summit is a serious attempt to confront the American-Israeli proposal.

"Ultimately, this summit is an attempt to fill the political vacuum that Washington and Tel Aviv may exploit, and it is a step towards forming a unified Arab position that reflects the interests of the Arab peoples and preserves Palestinian rights," Basharat says.

Basharat believes that the summit, although it is a first step, will lay the foundations for a comprehensive Arab vision that can be built upon in the coming stages, especially in light of the major challenges facing the Palestinian cause and the region as a whole.

The necessity of establishing a unified Arab position to confront challenges

Writer and political researcher, Dr. Walaa Qadimat, confirms that the expanded Riyadh Summit comes in the context of the necessity of establishing a unified Arab position to confront current challenges, most notably the dangers of displacing Palestinians, explaining that the Riyadh Summit is important for the participating countries to agree and set aside differences on how to finance the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and also how to manage the Strip.

Qadimat stresses that the summit represents an opportunity to formulate a joint Arab response that rejects any plans aimed at changing the demographic reality in Palestine, which calls for decisive decisions to prevent the implementation of these projects that threaten Arab national security.

Qadeemat explains that regional and international developments require a real awareness from Arab countries of the repercussions of the biased American position in favor of Israel, as this policy directly affects the national security of Egypt and Jordan, in addition to its repercussions on the Arab region as a whole, considering that the Palestinian issue is not only the issue of the Palestinians, but also an Arab and Islamic issue.

Qadeemat points out that the upcoming summit in Cairo holds special importance, as it is expected to constitute a major milestone in formulating a comprehensive Arab vision for the reconstruction of Gaza.

Qadimat stresses that this issue requires defining roles and responsibilities, and agreeing on clear mechanisms to ensure the reconstruction of the sector within a framework that enhances stability, rather than being a mere temporary measure without a clear political vision. Hence the importance of the expanded Riyadh Summit to formulate a position that establishes the Cairo Summit.

Qadeemat believes that the Riyadh Summit represents a real test of the extent of the Arab countries’ commitment to proposing practical solutions that guarantee the rejection of displacement and the protection of the Palestinian cause from attempts at liquidation.

Qadeemat stresses that the Arab and regional reality in light of the new American policies requires Arab leaders to realize the necessity of forming a unified, cohesive position, because the liquidation of the Palestinian cause will not only have repercussions on the Palestinians alone, but will affect Arab national security as a whole.

Qadeemat touched upon the fact that the US position cannot be relied upon, noting that the US bias in favour of Israel provokes Arab and Islamic sentiments, which could lead to an unexpected escalation in the event that displacement plans or the liquidation of the Palestinian cause are implemented.

Qadeemat stresses that betting on the silence of the Arab peoples is not a guaranteed option, especially since any attempts to force the Palestinians to leave their lands will be met with reactions at the official and popular levels, which will further complicate the situation in the region.

Qadeemat stresses that the reconstruction of Gaza must be part of a comprehensive solution, not just an emergency response to the humanitarian situation.

Qadeem believes that Arab leaders are required to develop clear and specific plans to secure international support for reconstruction, while ensuring that the Palestinian issue is not used as a political bargaining chip.

Qadimat indicates that Washington may be willing to back down from its position on displacement if it finds that the proposed alternatives serve its interests, which requires Arab leaders to present workable proposals that do not infringe on Palestinian rights.

She stresses that any solution that ignores legitimate Palestinian rights will further complicate the situation in the region, which could expose American and Israeli interests to unexpected risks.

Qadeemat stresses that rejecting displacement must be a firm collective Arab position, and not merely a negotiating position, noting that continuing to talk about “acceptable alternatives” instead of categorically rejecting displacement may lead to the erosion of the Arab position, which opens the door to projects that threaten the Palestinian existence.

Qadeem believes that the upcoming Arab summit should send a clear message to the United States and the international community that displacement is not an option, and that any attempts to impose it will be met with decisive Arab rejection.

Qadeemat stresses that the next stage requires joint Arab efforts to present a clear political vision that prevents the implementation of any plans aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause or threatening regional stability.

Presenting an Arab vision that supports the establishment of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution

Egyptian writer and political analyst Dr. Amr Hussein confirms that all eyes are on the upcoming Riyadh summit, which will be held today, Friday, with the participation of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Egypt, and Jordan, with the aim of discussing current challenges, most notably the displacement plan in the Gaza Strip.

Hussein points out that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi left Spain for Saudi Arabia to attend the Riyadh Summit, which is a major milestone for formulating a unified Arab position to confront the displacement plan.

According to Hussein, the Arab Republic of Egypt is leading efforts to formulate a unified Arab plan that aims to thwart the Israeli displacement project in Gaza and provide a strategic alternative that prevents the liquidation of the Palestinian cause.

Hussein explains that the US administration, led by President Donald Trump, justifies its support for the displacement plans with two main arguments: the continued rule of Hamas in the Strip, and the unlivability of Gaza due to the widespread destruction. In this context, the Arab countries are working on formulating a comprehensive plan that will be presented to the White House, which has expressed its readiness to consider the Arab proposal, in light of simultaneous Arab efforts to mobilize European support for the Arab position.

Hussein believes that the Riyadh summit is a preemptive step towards the upcoming Cairo summit next month, during which clear foundations will be laid to confront the plans aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause, and to work on presenting an Arab vision that supports the establishment of the Palestinian state and the two-state solution.

Hussein stresses the importance of Arab moves at a time when Gaza is facing a serious challenge, which increases the importance of unifying the Arab position to thwart attempts to impose new facts on the ground, according to an Israeli vision supported by the United States.

Any funding for reconstruction is not possible with Hamas in power.

Writer and political analyst Daoud Kuttab believes that the Riyadh summit aims primarily to secure the financial resources necessary to rebuild the Gaza Strip, stressing that the speed and efficiency of reconstruction with Arab support will be the strongest response to the displacement plans adopted by the administration of US President Donald Trump.

Writers explain that Arab countries realize the importance of providing significant financial support to rebuild the Gaza Strip, which was destroyed by the Israeli aggression. However, this funding is contingent on making a fundamental change in the administration of Gaza.

Writers point out that there is a trend within the summit to ask Egypt and Qatar to exert pressure on the Hamas movement to push it to step down from managing the Gaza Strip, or accept the establishment of a new Palestinian Authority or a joint Palestinian-Arab administration to take over the affairs of Gaza.

Writers confirm that there is an international and Arab consensus that any funding for the reconstruction of Gaza will not be possible while Hamas continues to rule, pointing out that the international community is demanding a new administrative framework that ensures that wars are not repeated and prevents the exploitation of aid for political or military purposes.

Writers point out that Israel is convinced that it will not stop its ongoing aggression against Gaza as long as there is no change in the management of the Strip, considering that forming a new authority that enjoys Arab and international acceptance will be the only way to secure the necessary funding and stop the Israeli war of extermination against the Palestinians in Gaza.