The Arab League has made a significant statement regarding the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, asserting that true peaceful coexistence in the region is unattainable without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. This stance comes as part of a resolution introduced by Egypt and Saudi Arabia during a meeting in Cairo that underscores the detrimental effects of what the League describes as Israel’s “hostile practices.”
In the resolution adopted on Thursday, the League emphasized that the absence of a fair resolution to the Palestinian issue, alongside Israel’s continued occupation, significantly obstructs the path to peace in the Middle East. This declaration coincides with heightened military operations by Israeli forces around Gaza City, the largest urban center in the Gaza Strip, signaling escalating tensions after calls from Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for the annexation of parts of the West Bank.
The resolution noted that sustainability in peace, cooperation, and coexistence in the region is impossible while Israel maintains its occupation of Arab territories and makes threats regarding further territorial expansions. The Arab League’s statement reflects a broader consensus among its member states concerning the need for a clear and just solution to the Palestinian situation.
While countries such as Egypt and Jordan have established peace treaties with Israel, and nations like the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco moved to normalize relations in 2020 through the US-brokered Abraham Accords, Saudi Arabia’s advancement toward normalization has been halted amid the ongoing conflict that erupted after Hamas’s recent attacks.
The League further reiterated that any enduring resolution must adhere to a two-state solution framework, as well as the principles laid out in the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. This initiative advocates for comprehensive normalization of relations in exchange for Israel’s complete withdrawal from territories occupied since 1967.
Amid this backdrop, Egypt stressed the necessity of preventing any single party from dominating the region, asserting that unilateral security arrangements that undermine collective security and stability are unacceptable.
