Arab leaders concluded the 31st summit of the largest annual Arab conference in Algiers on Wednesday (Nov 2).
The summit expressed “support for efforts to end the Libyan crisis through an inter-Libyan solution” as well as a “joint effort” by Arab states to end the fighting in Syria.
Arab leaders acknowledged the war’s dire consequences for their countries and, one after the other, called for “collective Arab action” to address common challenges.
Food and energy shortages, as well as the effects of climate change on their societies, are among them. However, they provided no information about a potential mechanism for feeding their people.
In a nod to Saudi Arabia, it expressed its backing for oil producers after the Saudi-led OPEC cartel and allied producers headed by Russia angered Washington by slashing production by two million barrels a day from November, further pushing up already elevated crude prices.
The statement said the “balanced” policy would help stabilise markets and “help the interests of both producer and consumer nations”.
- Algeria: At least 38 people have died as a result of forest fires.
- Algeria invests in its youth in order to accelerate human development and economic prosperity
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, however, was the summit’s most notable absentee, staying away with a reported ear infection.
The summit final statement backed moves to make the state of Palestine a full member of the United Nations.
“Palestine is the pivotal cause to the Arab nation and states”, the Arab league secretary general said.
“Therefore, we were determined to continue to issue resolutions and translate them and present them to the United Nations and international organisations as happens every time”, Ahmed Aboul Gheit concluded.
Throughout its 77 years of existence, the Palestinian issue has been a central to the league. It is recently that more and more Arab countries have started to normalize ties with the state of Israel.
The summit took place at a time of heightened tensions in the occupied West Bank, where the Israeli military has conducted nightly arrest raids in searches for Palestinian militants.
Dozens of Palestinians have been killed in recent months, including armed gunmen, stone-throwing teenagers and people uninvolved in violence.
