The decision rests with the decision-maker
Israeli figures and media outlets, among others, have leaked news suggesting that Kuwait will join agreements with Israel and normalize relations. These rumors, which Kuwaitis are accustomed to hearing periodically, aim, among other things, at two objectives: creating divisions with certain Arab states and sparking internal debate.
Regarding the attempt to create divisions with Arab states based on contradictory stances, and regardless of the stance of Palestinian political elites—whether liberal, Islamist, or even “jihadist”—who have been cowardly toward Kuwait during critical and difficult periods, Kuwait’s position on the Palestinian issue is clear and firm, and can be summarized as follows:
For the sake of fairness, even some countries linked to peace agreements with Israel adhere to these principles and objectives, differing from others only on the means. Therefore, attempts to create divisions are counterproductive and rebound on their instigators.
As for the attempt to spark internal debate in Kuwait, we have legislation on boycott and preventing manifestations of normalization with Israel, most notably Law No. 21 of 1964. More important than legislation and laws is the need to understand the nature of the Kuwaiti people, on the one hand, and the relationship between this people and their religious and political leadership, on the other.
Kuwaitis are inherently humane, reject injustice, and empathize with victims rather than perpetrators. They have internalized the principle of aiding the distressed and supporting the needy. They were raised on doing good and showing love, and have served as messengers of peace in the region and the world. It is difficult for this nature to change, regardless of the challenges Kuwait faces or the pressures it endures.
Kuwaitis have a special historical relationship with the Palestinian cause and other legitimate Arab causes. The Palestine Liberation Organization was launched from their soil, and they have consistently served as a primary base of support for this cause. They distinguish between supporting the principle of rejecting occupation and displacement, and the conduct of Palestinian leaders who stood with the occupier against Kuwait during a dark historical episode that left an open wound in bilateral relations. However, some awakenings impose their path while preserving sovereignty and dignity; consequently, the Palestinian Authority later issued an apology, and new convictions emerged within it that those who reject injustice cannot side with the oppressor under any circumstance or justification.
Moving from understanding the nature of the Kuwaiti people to understanding the relationship between the people and their leadership: Kuwaitis love their leader and father, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. They are inherently democratic, valuing freedoms and the expression of opinion within the framework of the Constitution. However, when it comes to critical and fundamental positions, “hearing and obeying” becomes the defining principle of the era.
His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, is a man who has dedicated almost his entire life to establishing the authority and supremacy of the law. Therefore, he possesses a unique vision regarding conflicts, disputes, and regional and international agreements. This vision is based on political solutions, respect for international laws, and UN resolutions. For him, politics is the art of the possible, but ethical commitment is equally inseparable from the law. If the path to a solution is clear, there is no alternative route, even if thorns grow along every side of the road.
From the outset, His Highness has linked Kuwait’s foreign policy to the public interest first and to shared interests with his brothers in the Gulf Cooperation Council states. The house is one, and the goal is one, regardless of differing views or methods. Clarity and directness characterize Kuwait’s current role, moving away from roles involving settlements, mediation, and secret agreements. We have previously seen Kuwait as a meeting ground for disputants, which drained effort and money without achieving the desired objectives. Today, however, Kuwait’s interests and those of its brothers are weighed before any move is made.
Those who believe that Kuwait is oblivious to what is being plotted against it do not know Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad. His Highness is attuned to the finest details, follows every development, and leads, commands, and directs according to the vision we have discussed: a triad of politics, law, and ethical commitment. Consequently, whenever he makes a decision, all Kuwaitis stand firmly behind him, because his dedication to Kuwait mirrors every Kuwaiti’s devotion to his country.
His Highness’s stance regarding the Palestinian issue is carefully considered and calculated, and is undoubtedly in the Palestinians’ best interests. It should be noted, however, that the parties to the conflict must also prioritize, above all else, their national interests, and it is up to them to determine the path they will take to resolve the crisis. Do they seek political and diplomatic warfare to reclaim their rights? Do they want military combat? Do they desire an independent Palestinian decision-making process, or do they prefer to be beholden to the influence of this or that state? Will they continue their security and political cooperation with Israel by day, only to devote their nights to vilifying Arabs linked to peace agreements?
Kuwait remains steadfast in its position, and Kuwaitis, despite the harm they have suffered, hold firm to their stance. His Highness, Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad, steers the ship through the fiercest storms battering the region, and we can do nothing but offer our support and commit to “hearing and obeying” whatever decisions are made.
