Saudi Arabia\, Allies Maintain Cold Shoulder for Qatar Ahead of Gulf Summit

Saudi Arabia, Allies Maintain Cold Shoulder for Qatar Ahead of Gulf Summit

Both sides rebuff calls to find middle ground, end diplomatic dispute

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CAIRO—Saudi Arabia and its allies are settling in for a new phase of a protracted standoff with rival Qatar, as officials from opposing Gulf Arab states gathered in Riyadh on Sunday for a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Both sides have repeatedly defied U.S. attempts to find middle ground—and Sunday’s meeting made little progress narrowing differences. The deadlock shows how Saudi Arabia and its allies have refused to back away from a 2017 blockade of Qatar that has divided key American allies in the Middle East and...