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The cartoon commissioned by the author is by Yaakov Kirschen, known as “Dry Bones,” a prominent political and social commentator in Israel whose cartoons have been featured in various media outlets for decades.
Saudi Arabia’s state-owned international news channel, Al Arabiya, has denied access to the author for writing positively about the Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine solution (HKOPS) published in Al Arabiya on June 8, 2022. The author’s endorsement of HKOPS, with 77 subsequent articles, has not received support from international media, think tanks, the United Nations, or the European Union.
Algeria suspended Al Arabiya’s operating license in October 2024, citing bias in reporting on conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. This action followed Iraq’s decision to revoke the license of MBC Group, the parent company of Al Arabiya, for labeling certain leaders as terrorists.
Access to Al Arabiya’s website was denied to the author without warning, with a notification linking him to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. The HKOPS proposed by Ali Shihabi calls for the merger of Jordan, Gaza, and part of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) under the Hashemite ruling regime in Jordan.
Shihabi’s solution diverges from previous Saudi peace proposals, abandoning the two-state solution and recognizing Amman as the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine. The right of return to Israel is forfeited, and Palestinians would receive full citizenship in the merged entity.
Shihabi’s proposal required MBS’s approval and support for implementation, leading to the author’s denial of access to his platform. The division of Gaza and the West Bank between Israel and Jordan, as outlined in HKOPS, resembles a solution proposed by the author in 1980.
The author highlights the continued consequences of a neglected solution and invites support for the “Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine supporters” Facebook Page.
