Arab newspapers: Constitutionalism launched today without agenda, and no decisions to result from it

Today, Arab newspapers have discussed the consultations of the so-called Constitutional Committee, in addition to the Libyan situation, and the American moves in the Middle East.

Al-Bayan: Syrian constitutional consultations will start in Geneva today

The Arab newspapers published this morning on the Syrian issue dealt with several issues, the most prominent of which was the meetings of the so-called Constitutional Committee, and in this context, al-Bayan newspaper said: "A new round of constitutional consultations between the opposition parties, the Syrian government and independents will start today in the Swiss capital, Geneva, and it will continue till Friday in order to reach new consensus and convergence on the constitution with the support of the United Nations, and Russia in particular, while the United States is monitoring the situation from a distance."

The newspaper expressed the pessimism that accompanies the work of this committee, as it quoted a source familiar with the course of the committee’s consultations as saying: "This round is a resumption of looking into previous files," pointing out that there are no decisions that will result from this round, and that the journey is long and needs multiple encounters.

The source added that the Iranian side is one of the most opposing parties to the path of the Constitutional Committee.

Observers of the newspaper believe that the main objection to this committee is among the three parties, that it is so far without an agreed agenda.

Al-Arab: Libyan army exposes al-Sarraj's intentions by declaring cease-fire

Regarding the Libyan issue, al-Arab newspaper said: "The Libyan army, led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, has decided its position regarding the initiative of the Prime Minister of the National Accord, Fayez al-Sarraj, regarding the ceasefire, as it was written in another capital, and targets the red herring."

This decision comes at a time when voices have raised doubts about the chances of the success of this initiative in stabilizing the ceasefire among the parties to the conflict in Libya, in an ambiguous atmosphere, in which priorities conflicted, and accusations of tension multiplied.

The welcome statements that followed locally, regionally and internationally with this sudden development were unable to obscure the concern of many observers who do not rule out the action by the factions and militias loyal to the Muslim Brotherhood that would abort any effort to return the Libyan file to the square of the political track.

Al-Sharq al-Awsat: Senior American officials to the Middle East

Regarding the American efforts to conclude agreements between Israel and the Arab countries, al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper said: "The most senior officials in the American administration are preparing to make intensive visits to the countries of the Middle East, especially Israel and the UAE in order to consolidate the agreement between the two countries and seek to include other Arab countries within it."

Diplomatic sources in Tel Aviv revealed that the Americans want the Emirati-Israeli agreement to succeed, set a timetable for progress on it and remove any obstacle standing in its way, and they are interested in expanding the agreement to include other Arab countries, and the sources hinted at Sudan, the candidate for a normalization agreement with Israel.

To reach these goals, Washington sends its senior officials to the region, as the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives in Israel today, and heads from there directly to the Emirates tomorrow. His visit will focus on progress in talks and agreements between Israel and the UAE, and US efforts to re-impose international sanctions on Iran, and according to the sources, Pompeo will also stop by Sudan, and he may announce in Khartoum the lifting of sanctions on Sudan.

A week after this visit, a large American delegation will arrive headed by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump and his senior advisor, the US envoy to the region Avi Berkowitz, Trump's national security advisor Robert O'Brien, and the US envoy to Iran Brian Hook, and this delegation will tour several Gulf countries, in addition to the Emirates and Israel.

D.H