Dr. Ahmed Rafiq Awad: The Baghdad summit cannot be relied upon to achieve a real breakthrough, and Trump's tour has proven that the moderate regime's ability to influence is very limited.

Dr. Hani El Gamal: The success of the summit depends on the extent of Arab countries' agreement on the Palestinian issue and their willingness to prioritize it to prevent the continuation of the war of extermination.

Dr. Munther Hawarat: The hopes pinned on this summit are great, most notably the formation of a unified Arab position that will contribute to halting the aggression on Gaza.

Tawfiq Taama: I am not optimistic about holding the summit because the Arab role is completely absent from Arab issues, especially the Palestinian issue.

Dr. Mukhaimer Abu Saada: The Arab Summit comes at a time of extreme Palestinian danger due to the war on Gaza.

The 34th Arab Summit is being held in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, today, Saturday, amidst the presence of the largest number of issues on the table for discussion and debate among Arab leaders, both those attending and those sending representatives. The most heated and pressing of these issues is the war of extermination being waged against the Palestinian people, especially in the Gaza Strip and the northern West Bank, which leaves nothing behind. In addition, there are the Syrian, Libyan, Lebanese, and even Iraqi issues, as Iraq, the host country of the summit, is looking forward to restoring its role in the Arab world after nearly 34 years of absence following its occupation of Kuwait, the subsequent wars that led to the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, and the emergence of the terrorist organization ISIS and its affiliates.

The summit also coincided with the conclusion of US President Donald Trump's tour of the Gulf region, and the "optimism" that prevailed among many circles regarding the possibility that the visit would bring hope for halting the war of extermination in the Gaza Strip and the possibility of initiating a political process that would end the suffering of the Palestinian people.

Writers, analysts, and experts who spoke to Al-Quds emphasized that the Baghdad summit cannot be relied upon to achieve a real breakthrough, noting that US President Donald Trump's tour of the Arab region demonstrated that the moderate Arab regimes' ability to exert influence is very limited.

They said that the success of the summit is linked to the extent of the Arab countries' agreement on the Palestinian issue and their willingness to give it priority to prevent the continuation of the war of extermination, pointing out that the Arab role is completely absent from Arab issues, especially the Palestinian issue.

Major disagreements between Arab parties

Dr. Ahmed Rafiq Awad, head of the Al-Quds Center for Future Studies at Al-Quds University, said that the Arab summit in Iraq could face numerous obstacles, both in terms of form and content.

He explained that attendance may not be at the same level of official and diplomatic representation. Furthermore, there are significant disagreements between various parties in the Arab world, and therefore, there may not be an effective presence.

Awad pointed out that the biggest problem relates to the Syrian president, as there are Iraqi parties that reject his arrival.

He pointed out that Iraq, as a state, may not have good relations with several parties, for various reasons that are obvious to everyone.

On the one hand, Awad wondered whether this summit could lead to results. He said, "I think that is completely unlikely. Why? Because there is a profound change in the region, where the Iranian axis has been significantly weakened, and the axis of moderation has not achieved any significant results, has been unable to fill the huge void, and has not been able to offer a solution or a clear vision to the American and European West.

The Arab Summit will not take effective decisions!

He explained that the Arab plan prepared by the Arab regime was unable to be imposed or persuade the United States, despite all the efforts America had made.

Awad emphasized that US President Donald Trump's tour demonstrated that this moderate regime's ability to influence the region is very limited.

He continued: "At the Baghdad summit, I do not believe it will be possible to make effective decisions or address Arab issues, especially the Palestinian issue.

He said that the Baghdad summit cannot be relied upon to achieve a real breakthrough, especially since, as we mentioned, diplomatic representation there will likely be low.

Awad concluded by saying, "There are major setbacks across the region as a whole, in addition to the desire and intent of the United States and Israel to control the region to a very significant and unprecedented extent."

Many challenges and hot issues

For his part, Dr. Hani El-Gamal, an Egyptian researcher in regional and international affairs, said, "The summit being held in Baghdad, which will be held amid high hopes, unfortunately presents many challenges and hot issues on the table of this special diplomatic summit. Most notable among these are the Syrian, Sudanese, and Libyan issues, as well as the Palestinian issue, which is considered the most volatile."

He added, "We had hoped that the Palestinian issue would be given priority at this summit, so that it would produce clear mechanisms and outcomes for dealing with this crisis, especially after Trump's visit to the Arabian Gulf region, which has not yet yielded tangible results from the United States regarding the crisis in Gaza."

Dr. Al-Jamal continued: "It is true that the statements preceding Trump's tour indicated an American intention to engage more strongly, pressure Israel to allow humanitarian aid into the area, and then enter into ceasefire negotiations. However, to date, no new American proposal has been put forward, other than a return to the Witkoff proposal to impose a temporary, limited humanitarian truce."

The summit comes at a critical time.

He emphasized that the extensive military operations carried out by Israel during the visit confirm a clear gap in understanding between Netanyahu and Trump, as the latter failed to exert maximum pressure on Israel, revealing a divergence in viewpoints between the two sides.

Al-Jamal believes that the summit's success hinges on the extent of Arab states' consensus on the Palestinian issue, their willingness to prioritize it to prevent the continuation of Israel's war of extermination in the Gaza Strip, document Israeli violations in the West Bank, and strive to adopt a decisive Arab position with enforcement mechanisms, whether at the level of international organizations or within the Arab system itself.

He pointed out that the summit faces significant challenges and comes at a more critical time than we anticipated, given the escalating Arab crises in its geographic surroundings, which have negatively impacted Arab strategic national security and threatened not only the stability of the crisis-hit countries but also those of neighboring countries.

Netanyahu may exploit this period to expand his aggression.

He explained how the Sudan crisis, for example, has created a sense of hostility between the UAE and Sudan, and between the countries supporting each side. Similarly, the situation in Syria, and the fear of exporting the radical model to neighboring countries, poses a major challenge. Furthermore, the internal situation in Lebanon, and attempts to strengthen Arab national security and combat terrorism by supporting stability there, have all negatively impacted the possibility of providing effective Arab support for the Palestinian cause.

Al-Jamal believes that Netanyahu may exploit this period, following Trump's historic visit to the Gulf, to expand his military operations unless genuine pressure is exerted on Israel to allow humanitarian aid and return to the negotiating table through mediators.

He added, "It is true that some delegations visited Cairo and Doha and met with American delegations during their stay in Doha, but so far, no positive results have emerged from these consultations."

Al-Jamal concluded by saying, "If this visit concludes without real American pressure on Israel, it will be a golden opportunity for the extremist right-wing government in Israel to intensify its military operations, dry up sources of humanitarian aid in the West Bank, and move to a new phase of settlement construction, which will further embarrass the Palestinian political system."

Iraq regains its regional and Arab presence

For his part, Jordanian writer and analyst Dr. Munther Hawarat said that the 34th Arab Summit is a symbolic diplomatic event. For Iraq, which seeks to restore its regional and Arab presence, this summit represents a major opportunity. The summit's real prospects are to return Iraq to the heart of the Arab order.

Dialogues emphasized that hosting the summit in Baghdad represents regional recognition of Iraq's efforts to recover from a long period of war and division, and marks its return as a political player in the region. This summit also maintains a minimal level of Arab coordination, particularly on some issues, most notably the Palestinian cause, which has long been a unifying issue for Arabs. However, recent developments have witnessed divergent views among Arab countries, and therefore this summit may provide an opportunity to unify opinion, or at least overcome obstacles.

Hawarat added, "There is a possibility of coordination on issues such as Syria, Sudan, and now Libya, which has resurfaced. The summit could also discuss re-coordination in the area of economic integration, despite the significant gap that has become a reality between the various Arab countries."

He believes that this summit could advance regional interests, although it may seem difficult, as disagreements between some Arab countries worsen over time. Nevertheless, hopes for this summit are high, most notably the formation of a unified Arab position that will contribute to halting the aggression on Gaza.

Diawarat pointed out that despite the clear differences in Arab positions, resolving the Gaza crisis, in his opinion, depends on the actions of the two main parties: the United States and Israel. Any Arab party that lacks the real ability to pressure them will be unable to achieve tangible results.

Reconstruction of Syria

He continued: "Another hope that can be built upon is that the reconstruction of Syria could be one of the economic steps that the Arab League might take. In addition, the summit could contribute to promoting Arab electricity interconnection projects, land ports, and other joint projects. However, the reality indicates that matters remain complex."

He pointed out that there are clear challenges, most notably the Arab divisions over several issues, such as the issue of normalization, the relationship with Iran, and the position on the Syrian regime, in addition to the conflicts in Sudan and Libya. Regional powers, such as Iran and Turkey, also have an influence that cannot be ignored. The Gulf position currently appears more unified, which is a credit to the Gulf.

He stressed that security challenges will be strongly present, especially in light of some threats issued in Baghdad against some Arab leaders. Nevertheless, he hopes that matters will move toward calm.

Hawarat also noted that the absence of a number of influential and prominent Arab leaders was another important aspect of the summit, which could weaken the strength of the summit's outcomes and decisions.

A joint roadmap for all Arab parties

For his part, political analyst Tawfiq Taama said, "The summit is being held under the slogan 'Dialogue, Solidarity, and Development,' and comes amid aspirations to draw a joint roadmap among all Arab parties to address the political, security, and economic challenges facing the region, in a serious attempt to strengthen joint Arab action, which has been absent among Arab countries for years."

He stressed that Arab countries face major challenges, amid internal and external disputes. Most notable among these are the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and its regional repercussions, as well as the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people. He also emphasized the ongoing tensions in a number of Arab countries, not to mention the economic challenges plaguing the region as a whole. This calls for collective Arab efforts to develop the economy and advance the shared Arab reality.

However, Taama expressed his lack of optimism about the summit being held, saying, "I am not optimistic about the convening of this summit, because the Arab role is completely absent from Arab issues, especially the Palestinian issue."

He asked, "Where is the role of Arab leaders? Where is the role of the Arab League in what has been happening in the Gaza Strip for more than a year and a half? What have these Arab countries offered? In truth, they have offered nothing but betrayal of the Palestinian people, something we have become accustomed to for many years."

Summits of denunciation and condemnation

He said: "The results of the Arab summits we have become accustomed to are: condemnation, denunciation, demands, and pleading with Israel to stop its aggression, and pleading with the Security Council and the United States to stop the massacres. Meanwhile, the Arab countries have forgotten that they have many pressure cards that can be used against the United States and Israel to stop the aggression, massacre, and genocide in the Gaza Strip.

Taama added: "Previous Arab summits have been held, at least two, and what did they offer the Palestinian people? Nothing. Why are the crossings still closed? Is it reasonable for 57 Arab countries to meet and not be able to offer anything to Gaza or the Palestinian cause?"

He emphasized that the Palestinian people have been groaning under occupation for more than 77 years, and today, on May 15, we commemorate the Nakba, amidst successive catastrophes, the most recent and most severe of which was the Gaza catastrophe and the ongoing mass displacement of the Palestinian people in the West Bank.

Taama explained that every time a summit is held, we see a further decline in the status of the Palestinian cause. In my opinion, it would be better not to hold it if its outcomes are insincere or not serious. He emphasized that Arab countries can stop the aggression against Gaza, as they possess numerous leverage points, especially those countries that have normalized relations with the occupation.

America is able to stop the aggression

He pointed out that the United States has the ability to stop the aggression, but has not yet exerted real pressure, and that the Arab countries, in turn, cannot pressure America because they simply do not have the will.

He added, "The strange thing is that in Europe and America, there is unprecedented solidarity. The peoples of the world are standing in solidarity, with the exception of the Arab peoples. Look at American universities: more than 200 or 250 universities have risen up, and despite the harassment, imprisonment, attempts to displace, and daily harassment of students, they have continued their protests."

Taama concluded his remarks by saying that the summit's decisions will not be translated into reality and will not halt the aggression against the Gaza Strip, while Israel will continue its aggression in defiance of Arab states and the international community. He emphasized that the time has come for these Arab and foreign states to take immediate action to punish Israel until it halts its aggression against the Palestinian people.

Low expectations

For his part, Dr. Mukhaimer Abu Saada, a professor of political science at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, emphasized that the Arab summit comes at an extremely dangerous and unprecedented time for Palestine due to the war in Gaza.

He said: There is hope that an Arab strategy will be agreed upon to pressure the international community to stop the war.

Abu Saada believes that Arab countries with relations with Israel should use their influence to stop the war.

But he expressed his regret over the high expectations that the Arab summit would produce, which would not go beyond expressions of condemnation and denunciation of what was happening in Gaza.

Abu Saada said: "Unfortunately, we have reached a stage where the newspapers have dried up and the pens have been removed."

He concluded by saying: "Unfortunately, neither the international community nor the Arab world can stop what is happening."