Lasting bond of loyalty between US and Kuwait, says envoy

Kuwaiti Ambassador to Washington Sheikha AI-Zain AI-Sabah delivers a speech at National Memorial Day. (KUNA)
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Updated 30 May 2023
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Lasting bond of loyalty between US and Kuwait, says envoy

  • Sheikha AI-Zain AI-Sabah takes part in Memorial Day ceremony in Washington
  • ‘We will never forget the human stories of service and sacrifice’

WASHINGTON: The US and Kuwait have a “lasting bond of friendship and loyalty,” Kuwait Ambassador to the US Sheikha AI-Zain Al-Sabah said as Washington marked National Memorial Day.
Kuwait News Agency reported on Tuesday that Al-Sabah expressed her “pleasure to be given the opportunity to represent my country” in a ceremony to honor the sacrifices of the US Armed Forces as she addressed the National Memorial Day Parade.
“I stand before you today, representing the good people of my nation and reaffirming that we will never forget the human stories of service and sacrifice as exemplified by the brave men and women of the US armed forces on or off the battlefields,” added the ambassador.
“Trust that we cherish and hold dear the strong and lasting bond of friendship and loyalty between our two nations.”
She added that the bonds between the two countries were “forged by war and strengthened by peace, and further cultivated by mutual trust and respect.”
The diplomat praised the soon to be constructed Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial, saying: “A special memorial is getting ready to be constructed in the heart of the US capital, Washington, to further commemorate the efforts of American heroes,” which is scheduled to be unveiled in 2025.
Kuwait took in the parade with a float that passed on Constitution Avenue to convey deep appreciation for those who served and those who fell in the fight to liberate the country.
More than 5,000 people marched in the parade, which is considered the largest Memorial Day event in the country.
It is a day “to honor, remember and pay our respects to all those who served and sacrificed, on and off the battlefield,” Al-Sabah said.
 


Israeli president urges global community to give Trump’s “peace plan a chance”

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Israeli president urges global community to give Trump’s “peace plan a chance”

  • The statements come in stark contrast to calls from ministers within the government which have called for a return to total war and annexation

DAVOS: Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Thursday urged the international community to “give the peace plan a chance,” saying the emerging proposal for Gaza could pave the way for stability, reconstruction, and renewed regional diplomacy.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Herzog said the plan had the potential to deliver a historic “Marshall Plan”-style rebuilding effort for Gaza. He added that the technocratic government proposed for the enclave - already accepted by Israel - would ultimately be judged by its ability to improve daily life for Palestinians.

The statements come in stark contrast to calls from ministers within the government which have called for a return to total war and annexation and continued Israeli attacks in Gaza which have killed 383 people since the ceasefire came in place, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. 

Herzog, who’s presidential position in Israel is non-political and largely ceremonial emphasized that the success of the peace plan would also influence broader regional dynamics, including the prospects for normalization with Saudi Arabia. 

He described the Kingdom as “a very important nation,” calling it his “dream” to eventually see an agreement signed between the two countries as part of a wider push to expand the Abraham Accords.

Saudi Arabia has made clear that any normalization would hinge on credible, irreversible steps toward a Palestinian state. Responding to questions from CNN anchor Fareed Zacharia, Herzog said he believed a political horizon and eventual Palestinian statehood were possible and would likely become a key issue in Israel’s upcoming election. 

The current Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, firmly opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state and has repeatedly reinforced this position across multiple diplomatic contexts. It has also sought to expand settlements in the West Bank and weaken the Palestinian Authority, further undermining the possibility of a two-state solution. 

On regional security, Herzog warned that Israel still believes Iran and Hezbollah are “regrouping and rebuilding.” He argued that Iran’s long-term future “lies in regime change,” and said Israel continues to place significant trust in the United States regarding security arrangements for Gaza.

Herzog added that Israel’s ultimate strategic goal is to “live peacefully with Syria,” though he declined to comment on ongoing diplomatic deliberations.