Al-Jubeir says calls to internationalize holy sites ‘a declaration of war’

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Adel Al-Jubeir has called what he said was Qatar’s requests for the internationalization of Makkah’s pilgrimage site an act of aggression and a declaration of war.

Qatari foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, however, has reportedly denied that his country made such claims, according to an interview with AlJazeera Arabic.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt said on Sunday that they are ready for dialogue with Qatar on a condition that it announces its sincere willingness to stop funding terrorism and extremism and its commitment to not interfere in other countries’ foreign affairs and respond to the 13 demands.

This came in a joint statement issued by foreign ministers of the four countries following their meeting in Manama to discuss the Qatari crisis, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The four foreign ministers also ruled out any negotiations over the 13 demands and six principles issued in the Cairo Declaration.

Al-Jubeir said the measures the four countries have taken against Qatar are sovereign, due to the country’s support for terrorism.

“Qatar talks about everything, but not about its stopping of supporting terrorism, its funding, incitement and hosting wanted persons and interference in the affairs of other countries,” Al-Jubeir was quoted as saying on SPA.”These matters that must be focused on and these things that we are ready to sit with the Qataris when they are ready to commit to them.”