World Bulletin / News Desk

Arab foreign ministers on Sunday supported a draft resolution opposing any recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, according to an Anadolu Agency reporter.

The draft resolution also rejected pressures mounted on the Palestinian leadership to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

"There will be no peace without Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem) as the capital of the Palestinian state," reads the draft.

It denounces repeated violations by Jewish extremists, under the watchful eyes of Israeli authorities, against Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest shrine.

Arab foreign ministers concluded earlier today their preparatory meetings for the two-day Arab summit, to kick off in Kuwait on March 25.

Middle East peacemaking, the war in Syria and the deteriorating situation in Yemen, Lebanon and Libya are expected to top the agenda of the Arab leaders in Kuwait.

Thirteen Arab heads of state have so far confirmed participation in the two-day meeting, considered by many to be the pinnacle of diplomatic, economic, and social cooperation among Arab countries.

Punish terrorism financiers

Arab foreign ministers supported on Sunday a draft resolution to punishment people who offer or raise funds for persons or organizations that use them in carrying out or participating in terrorist activities.

The draft resolution, to be endorsed by Arab leaders during their upcoming summit meeting in Kuwait later this week, calls for ratifying an Arab agreement on fighting terrorism.

They pressed for the creation of a network for judicial cooperation among Arab countries, particularly in the fields of fighting terrorism and organized crime.

Qatar détente not on Arab summit agenda

Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmi said on Sunday that reconciliation with Qatar is not on the official agenda of the Arab summit, which will start in Kuwait on Tuesday.

"For relations to go back on track there must be a radical change in political positions," Fahmi told a press conference following a meeting of Arab foreign ministers.

He cited "major differences" between Cairo and Doha that need time to be sorted out if there is a political will.

"We will monitor things, but nobody should raise expectations that this could be achieved during the summit," insisted Fahmi.

Relations between Cairo and Doha worsened following last year's ouster of elected Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi by the army.

Egypt's interim authorities accuse Qatar of intervening in Egyptian affairs, but Doha categorically denies the charge.

Fahmi said Egypt had asked Qatar to hand over some wanted persons, adding that Doha is yet to respond.

Egypt recommended as host of 2015 summit

Arab foreign ministers on Sunday supported a draft resolution calling on Arab leaders meeting in Kuwait later this week to endorse Egypt as the host of the 2015 Arab summit.

The ministers had approved a draft resolution proposed by Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmi, Kuwait's permanent representative to the Arab League Aziz Al-Dihani told reporters.

The 2015 summit was supposed to be hosted by Lebanon, which has apologized citing security conditions.

Cairo last hosted the Arab summit in 2000.