What was behind Abbas’ visit to Iraq?
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ rare visit to Iraq raised questions about its purpose, as no agreements were announced.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visited Iraq March 3. During meetings with Iraqi leaders, he sought to mobilize support for Palestinians and discuss the current political situation, the risks threatening the Palestinian cause, as well as bilateral relations and how to develop them on different levels.
Chief of the General Intelligence Service Majid Faraj accompanied Abbas, as well as his economic affairs’ adviser Mohammad Mostafa, diplomatic affairs’ adviser Majdi al-Khalidi and his son Yasser.
This is Abbas’ first visit to Iraq in seven years; he last went to Baghdad in March 2012 to attend the Arab Summit. Meanwhile, the Palestinian leader has made frequent visits to other Arab countries like Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Ahmad Akel, the Palestinian ambassador to Baghdad, told Al-Monitor, “Iraqi-Palestinian relations have undergone fluctuation and instability since 2003, with the US invasion of Iraq and the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime. But our relations are stable now, and we want to develop our relations with Iraq.”
