Editing Arab League (section)

==Politics and administration==
{{main|Charter of the Arab League|Council of the Arab League|Arab Parliament|Politics of the Arab League|Foreign relations of the Arab League}}
[[File:Arab Leage HQ 977.PNG|thumb|Headquarters of the Arab League, [[Cairo]].]]
[[File:Israel-Palestine Diplomacy.svg|thumb|
{{legend|#cdcd9c|Recognition of both [[Israel]] and Palestinian State}}
{{legend|#E5A238|Recognition of [[State of Palestine|Palestinian State]], with some relations to Israel}}
{{legend|#FF4500|Recognition of Palestinian State only}}]]
[[File:Provinces - Arab League.PNG|right|thumb|200px|Administrative divisions in the Arab League.]]
The Arab League is a political organization which tries to help integrate its members economically, and solve conflicts involving member states without asking for foreign assistance. It possesses elements of a state representative parliament while foreign affairs are often conducted under UN supervision.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID%3D36214%26URL_DO%3DDO_PRINTPAGE%26URL_SECTION%3D201.html|title=The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALESCO)|access-date=31 March 2024|archive-date=27 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627041350/http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID%3D36214%26URL_DO%3DDO_PRINTPAGE%26URL_SECTION%3D201.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Charter of the Arab League<ref name="yale"/> endorsed the principle of an [[Pan-Arabism|Arab nation-state]] while respecting the [[sovereignty]] of the individual member states. The internal regulations of the Council of the League<ref name="haynes">{{cite web |title=Internal Regulations of the Council of the League of Arab States |work=Model League of Arab States |publisher=Ed Haynes, [[Winthrop University]] |date=6 April 1998 |url=http://faculty.winthrop.edu/haynese/mlas/CouncilRegs.html |access-date=9 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406061423/http://faculty.winthrop.edu/haynese/mlas/CouncilRegs.html |archive-date=6 April 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and the committees<ref name="haynes2">{{cite web |title=Internal Regulations of the Committees of the League of Arab States |work=Model League of Arab States |publisher=Ed Haynes, Winthrop University |date=6 April 1998 |url=http://faculty.winthrop.edu/haynese/mlas/CmteeRegs.html |access-date=9 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406075743/http://faculty.winthrop.edu/haynese/mlas/CmteeRegs.html |archive-date=6 April 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> were agreed in October 1951. Those of the Secretariat-General were agreed in May 1953.<ref name="haynes3">{{cite web |title=Internal Regulations of the Secretariat-General of the League |work=Model League of Arab States |publisher=Ed Haynes, Winthrop University |date=6 April 1998 |url=http://faculty.winthrop.edu/haynese/mlas/SecGenRegs.html |access-date=9 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406064006/http://faculty.winthrop.edu/haynese/mlas/SecGenRegs.html |archive-date=6 April 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Since then, governance of the Arab League has been based on the duality of supra-national institutions and the sovereignty of the member states. Preservation of individual statehood derived its strengths from the natural preference of ruling elites to maintain their power and independence in decision making. Moreover, the fear of the richer that the poorer may share their wealth in the name of [[Arab nationalism]], the [[Arab Cold War|feuds among Arab rulers]], and the influence of external powers that might oppose Arab unity can be seen as obstacles towards a deeper integration of the league.

Mindful of their previous announcements in support of the [[Arabs]] of [[Palestine]] the framers of the Pact were determined to include them within the League from its inauguration.<ref name=geddes>Geddes, 1991, p. 208.</ref> This was done by means of an annex that declared:<ref name="yale"/>
{{cquote|Even though Palestine was not able to control her own destiny, it was on the basis of the recognition of her independence that the Covenant of the League of Nations determined a system of government for her. Her existence and her independence among the nations can, therefore, no more be questioned ''de jure'' than the independence of any of the other Arab States. [...] Therefore, the States signatory to the Pact of the Arab League consider that in view of Palestine's special circumstances, the Council of the League should designate an Arab delegate from Palestine to participate in its work until this country enjoys actual independence}}

At the Cairo Summit of 1964, the Arab League initiated the creation of an organisation representing the Palestinian people. The first [[Palestinian National Council]] convened in [[East Jerusalem]] on 29 May 1964. The [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] was founded during this meeting on 2 June 1964. Palestine was shortly admitted in to the Arab League, represented by the PLO. Today, [[State of Palestine]] is a full member of the Arab League.

At the [[Beirut Summit]] on 28 March 2002, the league adopted the [[Arab Peace Initiative]],<ref name="al-bab">{{cite web|author=Council of Arab States |title=The Arab Peace Initiative, 2002 |publisher=al bab |date=1 October 2005 |url=http://www.al-bab.com/arab/docs/league/peace02.htm |access-date=9 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604091304/http://www.al-bab.com/arab/docs/league/peace02.htm |archive-date=4 June 2009 }}</ref> a Saudi-inspired peace plan for the [[Arab–Israeli conflict]]. The initiative offered full normalisation of the relations with [[Israel]]. In exchange, Israel was required to withdraw from all [[Israeli-occupied territories|occupied territories]], including the [[Golan Heights]], to recognise Palestinian independence in the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip]], with East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as a "just solution" for the [[Palestinian refugees]]. The Peace Initiative was again endorsed at 2007 in the Riyadh Summit. In July 2007, the Arab League sent a mission, consisting of the [[Jordan]]ian and [[Egypt]]ian foreign ministers, to Israel to promote the initiative. Following [[Venezuela]]'s move to expel Israeli diplomats amid the [[2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict]], [[Kuwait]]i member of parliament [[Waleed Al-Tabtabaie]] proposed moving Arab League headquarters to [[Caracas, Venezuela|Caracas]], [[Venezuela]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/news-13536--12-12--.html|title=Kuwaiti MP calls to move Arab league to Venezuela|access-date=16 January 2009|date=15 January 2009|work=AFP, via CaribbeanNetNews|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304230647/http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/news-13536--12-12--.html|archive-date=4 March 2009}}</ref> On 13 June 2010, Amr Mohammed Moussa, Secretary-General of the Arab League, visited the [[Gaza Strip]], the first visit by an official of the Arab League since Hamas' armed takeover in 2007.

The Arab League is a member of the [[China-Arab States Cooperation Forum]] (CASCF), which was formed in 2004. CASCF is the Arab League's earliest participation in a cooperation forum with another country or region.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Murphy |first=Dawn C. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1249712936 |title=China's rise in the Global South : the Middle East, Africa, and Beijing's alternative world order |date=2022 |publisher=Stanford University Press |isbn=978-1-5036-3060-4 |location=Stanford, California |pages=58 |oclc=1249712936}}</ref> CASCF is the primarily multi-lateral coordination mechanism between the Arab states and China and within CASCF the Arab League represents its member states as a relatively unified force.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Murphy |first=Dawn C. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1249712936 |title=China's rise in the Global South : the Middle East, Africa, and Beijing's alternative world order |date=2022 |publisher=Stanford University Press |isbn=978-1-5036-3060-4 |location=Stanford, California |pages=57 |oclc=1249712936}}</ref> The Arab League's coordination allows Arab states to negotiate actively for collective projects involving multiple states, such as railway projects, nuclear power projects, and Dead Sea initiatives.<ref name=":1" />

In 2015, the Arab League voiced support for [[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen|Saudi Arabian-led military intervention in Yemen]] against the [[Zaidiyyah|Shia Houthis]] and forces loyal to former President [[Ali Abdullah Saleh]], who was deposed in the [[Yemeni Revolution|2011 uprising]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-joint-arab-military-force-20150329-story.html|agency=Los Angeles Times|title=Arab League's joint military force is a 'defining moment' for region|date=29 March 2015|first1=Christina|last1=Boyle|first2=Zaid|last2=al-Alayaa|access-date=5 July 2016|archive-date=6 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206150057/https://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-joint-arab-military-force-20150329-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 15 April 2018, in response to the [[Operation Olive Branch|Turkish invasion of northern Syria]] aimed at ousting U.S.-backed [[People's Protection Units|Syrian Kurds]] from the enclave of [[Afrin, Syria|Afrin]], the Arab League passed a resolution calling on Turkish forces to withdraw from Afrin.<ref>{{cite news|title=Turkey slams Arab League resolution on Afrin operation|url=https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/turkey-slams-arab-league-resolution-on-afrin-operation-3329296|publisher=Yeni Safak|date=18 April 2018|access-date=30 April 2018|archive-date=26 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726102004/https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/turkey-slams-arab-league-resolution-on-afrin-operation-3329296|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2019, the Arab League condemned [[Benjamin Netanyahu]]'s plans to [[Annexation|annex]] the eastern portion of the occupied [[West Bank]] known as the [[Jordan Valley]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Arab nations condemn Netanyahu's Jordan Valley annexation plan |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-49657915 |work=BBC News |date=11 September 2019 |access-date=18 September 2019 |archive-date=4 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804235349/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-49657915 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Arab League met in Cairo on 12 October 2019 to discuss [[2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria|Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria]]. Upon meeting, its member states voted to condemn the Turkish offensive, dubbing it both an 'invasion' and an 'aggression' against an Arab state, adding that the organization saw it as a violation of international law.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-arableague-turkey-syria-idUSKBN1WR0C9|title=Turkey's Syria offensive an 'invasion': Arab League secretary general|date=2019-10-12|work=Reuters|language=en|access-date=13 October 2019|archive-date=14 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414054524/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-arableague-turkey-syria-idUSKBN1WR0C9|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 9 September 2020, the Arab League refused to condemn the [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]]'s decision to [[Israel–United Arab Emirates peace agreement|normalize ties with Israel]]. Nevertheless, "The goal all our Arab countries seek, without exception, is to end the occupation and establish an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital," [[Ahmed Aboul Gheit|Aboul Gheit]] said.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/arab-league-ministers-agree-condemn-uae-israel-deal-200909141524785.html|title=Arab League: Ministers agree not to condemn UAE-Israel deal|date=September 9, 2020|website=Al Jazeera|access-date=11 September 2020|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115060530/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/09/arab-league-ministers-agree-not-to-condemn-uae-israel-deal/|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2024, the Arab League expressed support for South Africa's [[South Africa v. Israel (Genocide Convention)|ICJ genocide case]] against Israel.<ref>{{cite news |title=Genocide case against Israel: Where does the rest of the world stand on the momentous allegations? |url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/515627.aspx |work=[[Al-Ahram]] |date=13 January 2024}}</ref>