The Arab League has emphasized the need for unity among its member nations to maintain regional security and stability. The 32nd summit of the bloc, which recently took place in Jeddah, rejected “foreign interference” in the internal affairs of Arab countries.
The declaration also opposed the formation of armed militias and warned that internal military conflicts will only exacerbate people’s suffering.
During the summit, member nations discussed several pressing issues, including the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as well as developments in Yemen, Libya, Sudan, and Lebanon. The Arab League declared Palestine a central cause, affirming the nation’s right to absolute authority over all territories occupied in 1967, including east Jerusalem. The bloc also stressed the importance of activating the Arab Peace Initiative, originally proposed by the Saudi Kingdom and endorsed by the Arab League in the Beirut summit in 2002.
The concluding statement mentioned how the violence between Israel and Palestine has continued to escalate, with frequent raids by the Israeli military and settler violence in the West Bank. Since January, more than 140 Palestinians, and at least 19 Israelis and foreigners, have been killed.
The member countries also welcomed Syria’s return to the league after a decade-long hiatus, hoping that this will foster stability and unity within the country. The Arab League aims to intensify efforts to help Syria resolve its crisis.
Syria was suspended by the bloc in November 2011 due to the lethal crackdown on protests by the regime, which turned into a conflict, resulting in the deaths of over 500,000 people and the displacement of millions.
The member countries also spoke about the ongoing situation in Sudan, where they rejected foreign interference and called for unity and dialogue among the conflicting sides. Regarding Yemen, the bloc reiterated support for international and regional efforts aimed at reaching a political solution to the long-standing conflict, which has killed thousands and left millions reliant on international support. The member states urged the authorities in Lebanon to elect a president and constitute a cabinet as soon as possible to execute economic reforms and tackle the ongoing crisis in the country.
