- 05
- Mar
- 2025
Countering the plans of Trump and Israel regarding the future of the Gaza Strip was the backdrop for the Arab League leaders’ gathering on Tuesday at the organization's headquarters in Cairo. At the end of the summit, they adopted a new reconstruction plan for the enclave, presented by Egypt, valued at $53 billion.
This marked a rare moment of unity among the Arab states, more often known for their divisions. However, the absence of two key figures was particularly striking: Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and, above all, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).
A key question remains: will the organization be able to maintain this newfound cohesion and ensure the implementation of its plan? Or will its old divisions resurface and undermine its efforts? These questions require a deeper understanding of the organization’s nature and history.
A Desire for Unity
The Arab League is a regional organization founded on March 22, 1945, in Cairo by Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and North Yemen. Its establishment was driven by the desire for independence and solidarity among its members, as pan-Arabist ideas gained influence within Arab populations.
The creation of this organization, in the wake of World War II, was a response to the Arab nations’ desire to assert their unity in the face of the challenges of the time, ranging from decolonization to the geopolitical tensions of the Cold War. The Palestinian issue and opposition to the newly established state of Israel in 1948 naturally became the focal point of all these struggles.
Yet beneath this pursuit of independence lay a more cautious reality. The creation of the League took place under London’s patronage, which at the time was the dominant power in the region. In addition to the Mandate of Palestine, it still controlled Iraq, Transjordan, and Egypt in 1945.
The organization subsequently expanded with new members as decolonization progressed across the region. Palestine's full membership in 1976 strengthened the League's image regarding its role as a defender of Palestinian rights.
Promoting Cooperation
Today, the Arab League comprises 22 Arab states located in North Africa and the Middle East. Its primary goal is to foster cooperation among its members in various areas, including politics, economics, culture, and security, while defending the interests of the Arab world on the international stage.
Among the League's core missions are resolving conflicts between member states through diplomatic means, promoting economic cooperation through trade and investment agreements, and advocating for Palestinian rights and seeking a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The organization is governed by a charter that upholds the sovereignty of its member states and encourages collective efforts to strengthen their development and independence. It is led by a Secretary-General, elected by the member states, who oversees the organization's activities.
The League Council, made up of the foreign ministers of member states, serves as the main decision-making body. It convenes regularly to address regional issues and adopt resolutions, although these are non-binding.
Other institutions affiliated with the Arab League include the Arab Organization for Education, Culture, and Science (ALECSO), the Arab Economic and Social Council, as well as specialized agencies in fields such as health and telecommunications.
A Turbulent History
Despite its ambition to present a united Arab front, the League quickly encountered numerous challenges tied to regional geopolitical shifts. The differing interests among its members hindered the implementation of many initiatives.
This was especially evident during the region's many conflicts. As early as the Suez Canal Crisis, divisions emerged: while Cairo called for the withdrawal of Franco-British forces, Iraq and Transjordan sided with London. Later, the failed attempts to form a United Arab Republic between Syria and Egypt, as well as the opposition between the Syrian and Iraqi Ba'athist parties, highlighted the competing ambitions within the League’s member states.
When Egypt signed the Camp David Accords with Israel in 1979, it was effectively excluded from the organization, prompting the relocation of the League's headquarters to Tunis (though it would return to Cairo in 1990).
The signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020 between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, under the auspices of the first Trump administration, further underscored the enduring divisions within the Arab world.
A Much-Criticized Organization
As a result, the League has often been criticized for its inefficiency in addressing regional crises and the conflicting interests among its members. One of the organization’s main weaknesses is the lack of a binding enforcement mechanism for its resolutions.
Unlike other regional organizations, such as the European Union, it lacks a solid legal framework to compel its members to abide by decisions, which reduces its effectiveness in implementing common policies and undermines its ability to influence significant international matters.
Furthermore, national interests often take precedence over collective goals, complicating the adoption of unified strategies. Some member states maintain alliances with external powers which influence their decisions within the League, deepening divisions and further limiting the organization’s cohesion.
Finally, the organization has faced criticism for its inability to effectively address the humanitarian crises affecting the region, such as civil wars and waves of refugees. The lack of concrete responses to the upheavals of the Arab Spring or the prolonged conflicts in certain countries has contributed to the perception of the Arab League as ineffective and outdated.
Despite its limitations, the Arab League remains an important institutional framework for dialogue and coordination among Arab states. It continues to play a significant role in political and diplomatic debates within the Arab world, particularly in supporting peace efforts and promoting economic and cultural cooperation.
If the League succeeds in strengthening its unity and effectiveness, it could become a more influential actor on the international stage. In this context, asserting its own plan for Gaza serves as a litmus test for the Arab League.
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