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WORLD NEWS Friday 14 July 2017

Top US diplomat wraps up Gulf tour, but impasse grinds on

By ADAM SCHRECK stationed in the tiny Gulf
Associated Press country.
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- Qatar has rejected the de-
ates (AP) — The top U.S. mands, saying that agree-
diplomat wrapped up his ing to them wholesale
first foray in shuttle diplo- would undermine its sover-
macy on Thursday with little eignty.
sign of progress in breaking It is intent on waiting out
a deadlock between Qa- the crisis despite its neigh-
tar and four Arab neighbors bors’ attempts to isolate it.
that are isolating it. Shipping companies have
U.S. Secretary of State Rex set up alternate routes to
Tillerson traveled to the tiny, get supplies in without go-
U.S.-allied Gulf nation for ing through the blockading
a second time for a lunch countries, and flag carrier
meeting with 37-year-old Qatar Airways continues to
Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al operate its 200-strong fleet
Thani before heading back by detouring over friendlier
to Washington later in the airspace.
day. The government says it
Tillerson and his Qatari is covering a tenfold in-
counterpart appeared be- crease in shipping costs for
fore cameras in the capital, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, left, meets with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in Jiddah, essentials.
Doha, but ignored report- Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, July 12, 2017. Tillerson has held talks with the king of Saudi Arabia and Ally Turkey and nearby Iran
ers’ questions before he other officials from the countries lined up against Qatar, but there has been no sign of a break- have also boosted exports
left. through so far in an increasingly entrenched dispute that has divided some of America’s most to Qatar, and the country
Tillerson, a former Exxon important Mideast allies. has even taken to import-
Mobil CEO with deep ex- (U.S. State Department, via AP) ing cows to meet a dairy
perience in the oil-rich has been to secure a mem- the allegation, though it go far enough to end the shortfall caused by the clo-
Gulf, has been shuttling be- orandum of understanding has provided aid that helps dispute. sure of its only land border
tween Qatar, Saudi Arabia with Qatar to strengthen Islamist groups that others It is holding fast to its insis- with Saudi Arabia. Still, the
and mediator Kuwait since its counterterrorism efforts have branded as terrorists, tence that Qatar bow to rift is causing hardship for
Monday trying to repair a and address shortfalls in such as the Muslim Brother- a 13-point list of demands some.
rift that is dividing some of policing terrorism funding. hood and the Palestinian that includes shutting down Human Rights Watch said
America’s most important That deal goes to the core militant group Hamas. Qatar’s flagship Al-Jazeera Thursday the dispute has
Mideast allies. of the anti-Qatar quartet’s The anti-Qatar bloc argues network and other news left families separated,
Officials have downplayed complaints against the the pressure and demands outlets, cutting ties with Is- forced students out of their
expectations and say any natural gas-rich state: that it has placed on Qatar lamist groups such as the universities, and impeded
resolution could be months it provides support for ex- helped lead to the coun- Muslim Brotherhood, limit- medical care, including
away. tremist groups. terterrorism pact, but it says ing Qatar’s ties with Iran for a child who missed a
His clearest achievement Qatar vehemently denies the agreement does not and expelling Turkish troops scheduled brain surgery.q
US Mideast envoy helps broker Israeli-Palestinian water deal

By ILAN BEN ZION revive the moribund peace ally at a reduced rate. The of the border. Regional Cooperation Min-
Associated Press process, expressed hope water is a fraction of Pales- Greenblatt declined to ister Tzachi Hanegbi said.
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel that it would lead to more tinian needs, but will bring comment on the admin- “When you focus on the is-
and the Palestinians said progress on other, far more some relief to areas suffer- istration’s efforts to get sues and not about history
Thursday they reached a contentious issues. ing from chronic shortages, peace talks back on track, or background or personal
water-sharing deal to bring “Water is a precious com- especially during the hot but all sides expressed emotions or other disturb-
relief to parched Palestin- modity in the Middle East. summer. A third of the wa- hope that the water deal ing elements, the common
ian communities, a mod- The United States wel- ter will be delivered to the could serve as a jumping denominator is much big-
est but promising break- comes the agreement Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. off point for further agree- ger than what separates
through announced during reached by the Palestinian Israel, the Palestinians and ments. “All of us in this room us.” Mazen Ghuneim, head
the latest visit by the U.S. Authority and the govern- Jordan are discussing a proved last night that wa- of the Palestinian Water Au-
Mideast envoy. ment of Israel,” he said. number of potential water ter can serve as a means thority, said the agreement
Jason Greenblatt, who He said Israel would sell up projects, including the con- for reconciliation, for pros- would help meet Palestin-
helped mediate the water to 33 million cubic meters struction of a desalination perity, for cooperation, ian needs but did not have
deal as part of the Trump (8.7 billion gallons) of water plant in Aqaba, Jordan, to rather than be a cause for any bearing on final status
administration’s efforts to to the Palestinians annu- serve residents of both sides tension and dispute,” Israeli negotiations. q