Arab League

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The League of Arab States (LAS) is an International Organization of Arab States and was founded on 22 December. Founded in Cairo in March 1945, where it also has its headquarters. It consists of 22 members from Africa and Asia, namely 21 sovereign states and the internationally not fully recognized state of Palestine, which is represented by the PLO.

Objectives
The main objective of the State Union is to promote the relations of its members in the political, cultural, social and economic fields (financial, transport and health care, as well as culture and media). Similarly, the independence and sovereignty of the Member States and Arab foreign interests should be safeguarded. Disputes between members should be prevented and arbitrated. In addition, the recognition of the Palestinian territories as an independent state of Palestine is to be achieved.

History

Establishment and context of development
The establishment can be seen as a direct reaction to the political situation in the Middle East and the world political development during the Second World War. The first and most important step towards the establishment of this organization, whose territories were largely under the rule of the Ottoman Sultan, was the emergence of “Arab nationalism” in the region towards the end of the 19th century. century.

After fighting alongside the Allies in the First World War (1914–1918) against the Ottoman Empire, the Arabs hoped for their own independent state as thanks for their support. After the end of the war, however, the affected areas were divided among French (Syria, Lebanon) and British (Palestine, Iraq, Transjordan), who were largely autonomous in domestic politics. By the end of the Second World War, these territories – with the exception of Palestine – were released into independence. The main focus of these newly formed states was on securing their independence and creating an Arab unity. The latter was increasingly called into question by the increased Jewish immigration in Palestine (especially since the Balfour Declaration in 1917). This led to the Arabs’ fear of a new division of territories after the 1943 Tehran Conference, which could only be met through joint and coordinated efforts.

Another factor in the establishment of the Arab League was the change in attitude of the British government during the Second World War, especially as a result of the advance of German and Italian troops in North Africa in 1941 (African campaign). British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden encouraged Arabs to form a political entity, which he hoped would secure Britain’s long-term interests. Meanwhile, the various Arab governments had their own ideas of Arab unity, which were categorically rejected by each other.