{{The Arab League has kicked off a two-day summit in Doha where opponents of President Bashar al-Assad are representing Syria for the first time.}}
Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the emir of Qatar, opened the conference on Tuesday by inviting Moaz al-Khatib, the president of the Syrian National Coalition, to take Syria’s seat.
He told the audience of kings, emirs and presidents that he still supports a “political solution” to the crisis in Syria, but one that does not “rewind the clock.”
Al Thani also called for the setting up a $1bn fund to protect the “Arabness of Jerusalem,” though he acknowledged that past promises to aid the Palestinians have gone unfulfilled.
“We are all obligated to work to defend Jerusalem…. the Arab states must swiftly and seriously act,” he said, adding that Qatar will contribute $250m to the fund.
Arab foreign ministers met in Doha on Sunday to prepare for the meeting. Fighting in Syria and Afghan government peace talks with the Taliban will be high on the agenda at the summit.
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