History of Establishment
By the end of this century the LAS celebrated its 55th anniversary. The Arab League’s membership has expanded as from seven founding Member States, to 22 Arab member states; its inception has passed through several stages of development, reflecting the overall development of the region.
 
 

Due to Arab, Regional and International changes the idea of establishing a joint Arab organization, uniting all Arab countries, under one banner, only materialized and crystallized during the Second World War.
 
  On the Arab level; the atmosphere of war, was suitable for the growth of a national movement, that advocated resistance and liberation, which in turn lead to the independence of a growing number of Arab countries, while at the same time, generated the need to establish a kind of balance between the political powers. Secondly, the need for unity, was boasted due to the growing presence and strength of the Zionist movement in Palestine, and the impossibility of disregarding the role played by Britain, so as to realize the dream of a Jewish State. Moreover, education and political awareness played a paramount role in further enhancing the ideas relating to Arab unity and nationalism; a growing numbers where being exposed to ideas relating to liberation, and the eradication of colonialism. Lastly, during that period, human and commercial exchange between Arab countries was increasing; giving further imputes to the necessity and importance of unity.
 
  As regards the regional changes; two neighboring countries- Turkey & Iran- were passing through unique internal events, that distracted them from aborting Arab attempts for unity; Turkey’s defeat during the War, and its fear from the establishment of neighboring communist regimes along its borders. As for Iran, which was ruled by a Royal regime, and Western powers, the presence of communist neighbors was more of a threat to its fragile internal and external status.
 
  As regards regional changes; developments that followed the Second World War, drew the United State’s attention to the neighboring courtiers to the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and China, while leaving the Arab world alone, to remain within British and French hegemony. As regards, Britain, it is of importance to outline two major facts, while outlining its role in the creation of the LAS; firstly, its role in formulating the Arab league was a result of its interest, secondly, the role-played was complimentary, and not central. Britain, was playing a new game in a new world, where international competition was growing more and more; responding to independence calls was an important process in strengthening its presence in the area, a strength that would also grant it further leverage powers in solving the Jewish issue and establishing a lasting solution to the problem. Britain also made use of Second World War experiences, where the economic power of a unified Arab world was quite apparent ; a wealthy Petroleum reservoir, and a crossing point to one of the most important watercourses in the world Suez Canal.
 
  In order to realize the dream of unity, executive steps were taken to put the idea of unity into action. The then, Egyptian Prime Minister "Mustafa Al-Nahas", took an initiative by inviting both the Syrian Prime Minister " Gamil Mirdin", and the President of the Lebanese National Pact, to Cairo in order to negotiate, the idea of " establishing an Arab League to foster the bonds of relations between the Arab countries, that gained access to the League. This was the first time that the idea of establishing an Arab League was discussed clearly. After one month, the Egyptian Prime Minister reaffirmed the Egyptians governments preparedness to survey the Arab Government’s opinion in view of unity, and also hold a conference to discuss the idea, an idea that was supported by the then ruler of Jordan, Prince Abdullah.
 
  A series of bilateral negotiations were held between Egypt, on the one hand, and representatives from Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Yemen, on the other hand. These negotiations resulted in two unity trends:
 
  The first trend called for what may be termed as a " Sub-Regional Unit or Subsidiary Unit", under the trusteeship of " Great Syria" or the " Fertile Crescent. The Second trend; calls for a more general and comprehensive unity, embracing all Arab countries. This trend also came up with other opinions. One of them, calling for a Federal or a Con-federal unity between the concerned parties. While, the second opinion called for an intermediate form that would strengthen coordination and cooperation, while, at the same time maintain the independence and sovereignty of the countries concerned.
 
  When the preparatory committee held a meeting with the representatives of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt and Yemen during the period from 25th , September to the 7th of October 1944. The Committee decided to name the unity " The League of Arab States".
 
  As a result of various meetings, the Alexandria Protocol came to light, which stated the following principles:
  1. The establishment of the "The League of Arab States", to be compromised of independent Arab countries that accept accession to it, while at the same time forming a Council, in which all member states enjoy equal rights.
  2. The Arab League Council would be entrusted with the implementation of agreements, the holding of periodical meetings, and enhancing the relations between various members’ states.
  3. The resolutions adopted by the Arab League Council are binding upon all states, save that in cases implying differences between two League Member States who will refer to the Council to settle conflicts between them. In such cases, the resolutions will be binding upon all parties.
  4. It is illegal to use power to settle conflicts that may arise between two League Members States. It is also illegal to follow a foreign policy that would harm the policy followed by the League of Arab States or any of its Member’s policy.
  5. Declaring the sovereignty and independence of the organizing countries and their present borders, the Protocol implied two resolutions relating to the following items:
    1. Respect of Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty;
    2. To consider Palestine as an important element in the Arab countries set up.
  6. The Protocol stated the formation of a subsidiary political Committee, formed by members of the former Preparatory Committee, to draft an order and discuss political matters, where agreements can be concluded between Arab countries.

This protocol was the principle document that laid the foundations of the League of Arab States Charter.
 
  The League of Arab States Charter consisted of a preamble, 20 articles, 3 appendices. The first Appendix dealt with Palestine. The second Appendix dealt with cooperation with the non-independent countries, who, at the same time are non Member states in the Arab League Council. The third Appendix dealt with the assignment of Mr. Abdual-Rahman Azam, in his capacity as Minister Plenipotentiary in the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to be the First Secretary General of the League of Arab States, for a period of two years.
 
  The preamble tackled the issue of membership of the league and how Member States must establish relations within a framework of respect, independence and sovereignty that would serve pan Arab interests.
 
  The Charter laid the foundations for the type of organizational and procedural membership provisions, the Arab League Council Headquarters and its General Secretariat, diplomatic privileges, the withdrawal or dismissal from the Arab League, the Charter amendment and, finally, the ratification procedures and the group objective rules relating to the commitments of Member States towards each other, implying every country’s respect to the ruling system of the other country, as well as the peaceful settlement of inter-conflicts, and co-coordinating their foreign policies.
 
  Ever since its establishment, many attempts were undertaken to develop the Charter, thus introducing; the instrument of amending the Charter itself, by reference to Article (19) in the Charter, stating the possibility of amendment, according to the consensus 2/3 of the majority, so as to create stronger and deeper ties between the Member States and also establish an Arab Court of Justice.
 
  The Arab League Today
 
  Today the League of Arab States is an umbrella organization for seventeen specialized agencies, dealing with functions such as maritime transport, civil aviation, economic and social development, educational, cultural, and scientific affairs, monetary policy, broadcasting, and telecommunications. There are also fifteen permanent committees for matters concerning oil, human rights, and women. The League itself is a very small organization; it has around 400 employees in its secretariat and offices around the world, and 200-300 local employees in the Cairo Headquarters. By comparison, the main organs of the European Union (in Brussels alone) employs over 20,000 people.
 
  The League’s specialized agencies and permanent committees have contributed to functional integration within the Arab world, the League itself has done poorly on the political level. Its efforts to foster economic integration has been ineffectual, and its military and collective security functions, to date, have not materialized. However, the LAS has been more successful in organizing a common Arab stand on International issues. The most important of them, has been the question of Palestine and Israel. The League grew up, with the Palestinian problem, and for many years it helped organize a solid consensus opposing Israel’s establishment and subsequent expansion. It maintained the Arab Boycott Office and promoted the cause of the Palestinian refugees.
 
  However, the LAS was ineffective in organizing a collective defense or deterrent against Israel, let alone a negotiated solution. It was also incapable of preventing Egypt from defecting from the common Arab stand after the Camp David negotiations in 1978 and the Egypt-Israel peace treaty in 1979. Furthermore, it played no role in the U.S. sponsored peace process that began in Madrid in 1991 and led to bilateral Palestinian-Israeli and Jordanian- Israeli agreements and the development of contacts between Israel and several other Arab states. On the Arab level, LAS mediation was attempted in a number of crises, such as the Lebanese civil war of 1958, and Jordanian-Palestinian crises of 1970, and conflicts between North and South Yemen, and the early stage of the 1975-1989 Lebanese Civil War, and the Iraq-Kuwait crises.
 
  For Further information and resources please view Briefcase.
   
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