Cairo, Sept. 7 (Petra) — Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy
said on Monday that the Arab region and the Middle East were going
through a critical phase marked by growing violations of
international law, attacks on civilians, expanding conflicts and arms
races, declining confidence in multilateral institutions, and rising
isolationist, extremist, and hateful sentiments.

Addressing the 166th session of the Council of the League of Arab
States at the level of foreign ministers, Fahmy said the world was
witnessing increased reliance on force to impose faits accomplis,
seize the territories of others, interfere in internal affairs, use
militias to attack state institutions, encourage separatist
tendencies, and threaten freedom of navigation.

He said the defining feature of the international and regional
landscape had become the prevalence of the law of force over the
force of law.

The Arab world is facing a process of regional reshaping as well as
existential challenges and risks that require the highest levels of
vigilance, solidarity, and responsibility, Fahmy said.

He stressed that achieving Arab sovereign decision-making does not
mean isolating the Arab world from global affairs or relying
excessively on others, but rather strengthening Arab integration and
cooperation while enhancing national capabilities and maintaining
international engagement.

What unites Arab countries strategically outweighs what may divide
them tactically, he said, noting that threats facing one Arab state
have repercussions for others, while opportunities available to any
one country can, through cooperation, become broader gains for all.

Fahmy outlined the main features of an Arab project based on three
key pillars: addressing challenges and building and strengthening
comprehensive national security capabilities at the national,
regional, and international levels; sustaining human and
institutional development in ways that strengthen Arab arrangements
and enable Arab countries to participate in shaping regional and
international arrangements; and achieving creative and sustainable
development that respects the rights of citizens and societies and
strengthens relations among Arab states.

He said he planned during the coming period to engage with Arab
leaders and foreign ministers of member states to develop these
elements, paving the way for the adoption of a “renewed Arab agenda”
under the theme of “addressing challenges, development, and growth,”
backed by proactive and effective action rather than rhetoric.

Fahmy stressed that the Arab League represents the “home of all Arabs
without exception” and that efforts to develop it and adapt its
working mechanisms should focus on strengthening the national and
regional capabilities of member states, anticipating risks before
they materialize, managing crises when they occur, and supporting
Arab decision-making with information, expertise, analysis, and
forward-looking assessments.

He announced plans to establish a center of excellence as an Arab
platform for expertise and strategic analysis of emerging threats,
drawing on the capabilities of the General Secretariat and
strengthening them when necessary, while prioritizing preventive
diplomacy, early warning, crisis management, and support for
settlement efforts.

He also said he intended to draw on the expertise of prominent Arab
figures through an advisory council in selected fields, as well as
appoint special envoys for certain priority issues, depending on the
nature and requirements of each mission.

On the Palestinian issue, Fahmy said Palestine would remain the
“foremost regional issue” and a “test of the Arab world’s
credibility” before its peoples and the international community.

He pointed to the continued loss of civilian lives in the Gaza Strip,
saying continued intransigence and delays in implementing the
commitments arising from the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit agreement
were undermining the transition from a ceasefire to genuine peace.

He also condemned continued violence in the West Bank and Jerusalem,
the expansion of settlements, land confiscations, home demolitions,
and repeated incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque, warning that such
practices were pushing the conflict towards more dangerous levels.

Fahmy also pointed to the extension of Israeli attacks to southern
Lebanon and Syrian territory, as well as the Red Sea and Somalia,
describing this as a violation of sovereignty and an undermining of
efforts to de-escalate tensions.

Arab states seek peace and stability but will continue to defend
Palestinian rights and uphold a just settlement that ends the
occupation and enables the Palestinian people to establish their
independent state, while preserving the sovereignty of Arab states,
he said.

Fahmy announced plans to strengthen the monitoring and documentation
of Israeli violations of international law and international
legitimacy resolutions by launching a unified coordination mechanism
linking Arab monitoring bodies with relevant General Secretariat
departments.

The mechanism would aim to standardize monitoring and documentation
methodologies and produce periodic outputs to support political,
media, and legal action, he said.

Regarding Iran, Fahmy said targeting the territory and facilities of
Arab countries was “unacceptable to the Arab League and has no
justification,” stressing that Arab states were not parties to the
war and had not chosen to become a theater for it.

Arab countries are open to balanced relations with their neighbors
based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and an end
to interference in internal affairs, he said. This openness, however,
is accompanied by a clear position that “the security of the Arab
Gulf states is part of Arab national security” and that any threat to
it concerns the Arab League and its member states.

Fahmy warned of the repercussions of disrupting maritime routes,
particularly the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, stressing that
any vulnerability or disruption affecting the two waterways would
have direct consequences for Arab economies and security, as well as
repercussions for the global economy.

Arab states will not accept the use of maritime routes as a
bargaining tool in the calculations of others, he said, stressing
that the rights of littoral states and freedom of navigation are
governed by international law.

On internal Arab affairs, Fahmy said conflicts were draining the
capabilities of a number of Arab states and threatening their
territorial integrity and the cohesion of their national
institutions, while forcing millions of people to flee their homes
and seek refuge.

He renewed the Arab League’s support for Sudan amid the continuing
war and the widespread displacement and difficult humanitarian
conditions it has caused, reaffirming support for Lebanon in
preserving its unity and sovereignty and for Syria in restoring full
control over its territory and supporting its recovery efforts.

The Arab League remains committed to Somalia’s unity and rejects any
arrangements that undermine its sovereignty, he said, stressing the
importance of an active Arab role in Libya and Yemen amid rapid
developments in both countries.

The Arab position is based on finding political solutions, ending
fighting, expanding humanitarian assistance and ensuring its
delivery, and preserving the unity and territorial integrity of
states, Fahmy said.

He stressed that economic integration and sustainable development
were key components of Arab countries’ ability to protect their
security and shape their future, particularly as young people make up
a large proportion of Arab societies and seek better opportunities in
education and employment, more competitive economies, and a future
based on technology and knowledge.

Strengthening women’s participation in leadership and the workforce
is also an integral part of maximizing the capabilities of Arab
societies, he said.

Fahmy said the Arab League was working to focus its economic and
development activities on specific, actionable priorities, foremost
among them trade and investment, food and water security, digital
transformation and artificial intelligence, technology localization,
recovery and reconstruction, joint Arab projects, education, and
health.

He stressed the importance of following up on the implementation of
decisions taken by member states, highlighting achievements and
addressing obstacles that prevent their implementation.

The value of meetings and decisions, he said, lies in their ability
to translate into tangible results felt by Arab citizens.

On efforts to improve the League’s performance, Fahmy said he had
begun from his first day in office to directly follow up on the work
of the General Secretariat’s sectors.

Some sectors are carrying out serious professional work and important
initiatives and services that can be built upon, he said.

The follow-up process had also identified areas requiring
development, overlaps in responsibilities that could be addressed,
and resources that could be used more efficiently, including the
League’s external missions, in line with needs and priorities, Fahmy
added.

Some areas would require restructuring, the creation of a limited
number of positions, and the recruitment of additional expertise.
These needs would be presented to member states in a specific and
justified manner following consultations, he said.

He also announced plans to establish a performance incentive and
evaluation system based on clear and fair criteria, providing a work
environment in which every employee understands their
responsibilities, rights, and duties.

Fahmy concluded by stressing that the challenges facing the Arab
world were substantial, but the Arab world’s capabilities were
greater, particularly its young population, resources, strategic
location, accumulated political and diplomatic expertise, and
political weight.

He affirmed his determination during his term to ensure that the Arab
League remains permanently present and effective in serving joint
Arab action, addressing challenges, advancing development efforts,
and achieving sustainable growth in a manner that contributes to
building a better future for coming generations.

//Petra// AF