The Shura Council held its regular weekly meeting via videoconference on Monday under the chairmanship of HE the Speaker Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, at the Council's headquarters.

 

At the outset of the meeting, HE the Speaker hailed His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's stances in supporting the brotherly Palestinian people and defending the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Arabism of Jerusalem. The Council also praised the role of Qatar in ending the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

 

The Council welcomed the ceasefire agreement between the Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza and the Israeli entity, and expressed hope that this agreement would pave the way for a lasting calm that would provide the appropriate atmosphere for the resumption of the peace process in accordance with the international legitimacy resolutions, the Arab peace initiative and the two-state solution, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967 with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

 

The Shura Council renewed the firm position of Qatar in support of the brotherly Palestinian people and their legitimate rights, and saluted the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in the besieged Gaza Strip and in all the occupied Palestinian territories and their tenacious defence of the sanctity of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Arabism of Jerusalem, as well as their tremendous sacrifices for the sake of their just cause and their legitimate rights.

 

After that, the Council continued its session where it discussed a draft law to issue a law on the Shura Council's electoral system. The discussion was initiated by HE the Chairman of the Council who appreciated His Highness the Amir's vision to develop the Shura approach in the country and increase popular participation in legislation and oversight based on the provisions of the State of Qatar's permanent constitution, from which the framework of His Highness's decision came in his speech at the opening of the 49th Shura Council Session on Nov. 3 of 2020 on holding the Shura Council elections next October, and the procedures that followed to implement His Highness the Amir's decision. The draft law on the Shura Council's electoral system is the main step in implementing the Amir's decision.

After the discussion, the Council decided to refer the aforementioned draft law to a joint committee of the Internal and External Affairs Committee and the Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee to study it and submit a report thereon to the Council.

 

The Council also discussed a draft law on measures to host FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and a draft law on the protection of trademarks, copyrights and related rights of the International Football Association (FIFA). The Council then decided to refer the two draft laws to the Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee to study them and submit a report thereon to the Council.

 

As part of the agenda of its session today, the Council reviewed the report of the Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee on a draft law issuing a mediation law on settlement of civil and commercial disputes. After discussing the report, the Council recommended amending two of its articles, approving it in its amended form, and referring its recommendations regarding it to the esteemed government.

 

HE the Speaker briefed the Council during the meeting on his participation in the emergency meeting for Arab Parliaments' Speakers organized by the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (AIPU) via videoconference on May 12 to discuss the Israeli attacks on the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, and on the positions and proposals HE presented on behalf of the Council to confront the brutal Israeli aggression and strengthen the steadfastness of the Palestinian people.

HE the Speaker also briefed the Council on the phone call he received from the Speaker of Turkish National Assembly on May 15, during which the conversation focused on the role of parliamentary work in ending Israeli attacks and violations and protecting the Palestinian people.