Arab League
#ArabLeague
#MENA
The League of Arab States (commonly known as the Arab League) is a regional organization of Arab countries in and around the Middle East and North Africa, established to promote cooperation, unity, and joint action among member states.
1. Overview
Category Details
Official Name League of Arab States (LAS)
Arabic Name جامعة الدول العربية (Jāmiʿat ad-Duwal al-ʿArabiyya)
Founded March 22, 1945 in Cairo, Egypt
Founding Members Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan (Jordan), Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen
Current Members 22 countries (including Palestine)
Headquarters Cairo, Egypt
Official Language Arabic
2. Member States (22)
1. Algeria
2. Bahrain
3. Comoros
4. Djibouti
5. Egypt
6. Iraq
7. Jordan
8. Kuwait
9. Lebanon
10. Libya
11. Mauritania
12. Morocco
13. Oman
14. Palestine
15. Qatar
16. Saudi Arabia
17. Somalia
18. Sudan
19. Syria (membership suspended)
20. Tunisia
21. United Arab Emirates
22. Yemen
3. Objectives
• Strengthen ties among Arab states
• Coordinate political, economic, cultural, and social policies
• Promote Arab interests globally
• Support Palestinian statehood
• Prevent or resolve conflicts between members through dialogue or mediation
4. Organizational Structure
• Council of the Arab League: Main decision-making body, composed of representatives (usually foreign ministers or heads of state).
• Secretary-General: Chief administrative officer; current (as of 2025) is Ahmed Aboul Gheit (since 2016).
• Specialized Committees: Handle defense, economics, culture, human rights, etc.
• Summits: Regularly held to coordinate policies and issue joint declarations.
5. Key Issues & Activities
Palestinian Issue
• Core mission since inception.
• Supports the two-state solution and recognition of East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.
• Strongly opposed the U.S. embassy move to Jerusalem (2018).
Conflicts Among Members
• Has tried (with limited success) to mediate in conflicts:
• Lebanon civil wars
• Iraq-Kuwait tensions
• Yemen civil war
• Libya conflict
• Syria crisis
Boycott of Israel
• Historically enforced economic boycotts.
• Some normalization has occurred since 2020 (Abraham Accords), causing internal division.
6. Criticism & Challenges
Issue Explanation
Lack of enforcement power Resolutions are not binding.
Internal divisions Rivalries (e.g., Saudi vs. Qatar; Egypt vs. Turkey-aligned actors) hamper unity.
Inaction during crises Limited influence in Syria, Yemen, Libya conflicts.
Member suspensions Syria suspended in 2011 during the civil war (partially re-engaged in 2023).
7. Achievements
• Promoted Arab cultural, educational, and economic cooperation.
• Established joint institutions (e.g., Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization – ALECSO).
• Acted as a diplomatic platform for Arab solidarity, particularly in support of Palestine.
Summary
Strengths Weaknesses
Symbol of Arab unity Weak institutional power
Platform for diplomacy Deep political divides
Promotes shared identity Often ineffective during major conflicts
Would you like a timeline of major Arab League summits, map of member states, or analysis of its role in the Israel-Palestine conflict?
