Trump and Republicans closer than Democrats to Muslims, head of pro-Trump Arab group claims

CHICAGO: Illinois Congressman Mike Quigley on Wednesday called on the US to recognize a Palestinian state, and expressed concern over Israel’s killing of Palestinian Americans and the lack of media reporting on their deaths.

Their sacrifices and Israel’s “genocide” in Gaza are fueling a new push for peace, the Democrat — elected in 2009 — told Arab News.

A dozen House Democrats signed a draft letter on Monday calling for US recognition of Palestinian statehood.

A member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and co-chair of the Ukraine Caucus, Quigley said he is “deeply horrified” by the reports and images coming out of Gaza.

“How war is comported is as important as the reasons you fight the war, and at some point you just have to disagree with your friends and tell them, ‘This has to stop,’” he said, adding that the conflict and the killing of Palestinian Americans are impacting US public opinion. 

“A lot of my colleagues … want to support Israel, a critical ally … but they’re struggling and agonized,” Quigley said, adding that the rhetoric from Israel’s government and the deaths in Gaza have “dramatically” changed how Americans view the conflict.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “emboldened” extremists, Quigley said, adding that Israel’s government includes “the farthest right, evil, dark people who are talking about things that can only be described as ethnic cleansing.”

Quigley continued: “One of the greatest values in being viewed as a moderate is that when I say something, at this point, hopefully it can carry more weight. That’s what I’m hoping.” He said the conflict is a “wake-up call” for everyone, including Israelis.

Quigley called for the immediate shutting down of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is backed by Israel and the US, and has come under increased criticism for the killing of Palestinians at many of its distribution sites.

GHF operations “violate fundamental humanitarian principles,” and the foundation “has proven incapable of safely delivering the humanitarian aid necessary to prevent mass starvation,” he said.

“All future aid provided by the US to Israel must face stringent oversight and review,” he added, denouncing the “serious escalation” in violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, where hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in the past two years, including five US citizens.

“Israeli settler encroachment in the West Bank should come to an immediate end, violations and violence must be prosecuted fully by the Israeli government, and the US government should sanction all perpetrators of this instability,” Quigley said.

“Israelis and Palestinians will never be secure if the Israeli government continues to prevent the Palestinian people from having basic rights and dignity, with a state of their own, alongside Israel.”

NEW DELHI: Indian hotel suppliers are planning to display their products at a supplies expo in Jeddah in December, as they seek to enter the growing Saudi hospitality market. 

The Saudi port city is hosting the 2025 Hotel and Restaurant Supplies Expo from Dec. 9-11. This will be the seventh edition of the exhibition, which connects international suppliers with hospitality players in the Kingdom. 

For the first time, the event will feature a “Made in India” showcase to highlight India’s role as a “rapidly emerging” and “go-to” sourcing hub for the global hospitality sector. 

“We are expecting high interest from Indian manufacturers to enter the Saudi market as India has the best quality with the manufacturing (of) hospitality (products),” Zeinab Ayoub, marketing manager of Jeddah-based exhibition organizer Wehdat Al-Ertikaz, told Arab News. 

Ayoub attended at the International Hospitality Expo in the Indian city of Greater Noida this week to encourage potential Indian suppliers to join the Jeddah expo in December. 

“Lots of exhibitors are interested to join the exhibition because they want to enter the Saudi market. For most of them it is the first time to enter Saudi Arabia, so this is an opportunity,” she said. 

“We have met lots of exhibitors from different categories; mattresses, F&B, horeca (hotels, restaurants, cafes) suppliers, tableware, textiles, hotel amenities.” 

Indian manufacturers see the Jeddah event as their opportunity to enter the Saudi market, especially after businesses from the Kingdom and the wider Gulf region showed interest for their products at the event in Noida. 

“If we get an opportunity to work with the Saudi people we will love to do that. We have got few clients, few enquiries from the Saudi people. There is another show that is happening in Jeddah and we are definitely going to participate in that show,” Pawan Kumar Verma, owner of 17 Nakshtra Art Works manufacturer, told Arab News. 

“Saudi is a big market, it’s a big lucrative market. Definitely we will look forward to seeing that market and we are very keen to work with the Saudi people … there are new hotels, upcoming hotels. So we will have good opportunities out there.” 

Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to develop the tourism industry — its second largest after oil — to make the Kingdom one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the world. 

The government’s strategy appears to focus on building high-end properties, with global real estate consultancy Knight Frank expecting more than 58,000 new hotel rooms developed in the next five years. 

Yash Nagpal, owner of a mirror manufacturing company, sees the Saudi pivot to upscale properties as an opportunity for his products. 

“Saudi Arabia has taken a lot of initiative towards tourism and all that. It is good to see a country improving in terms of tourism. It is helping us also that the hospitality industry is growing,” he told Arab News. 

“From the past few years it has been one of the main markets for Indian business exports … I would like to work with Saudi Arabia, even with the mirrors, we have a luxury feel, so (in line) with the Saudi Arabian vibes.” 

Navneet Kamra, owner of Delhi-based Iris Hotel Craft, also sees the Saudi market as key to his business growth. 

“Saudi Arabia is a good country, they are expanding. It’s a bigger opportunity for us. There is a huge demand in the coming years and we can fulfil,” he told Arab News. 

“Saudis are growing so we can also grow with them.”