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Arab League
- The Arab League, formally called the League of Arab States is a voluntary association of independent countries whose peoples are mainly Arabic speaking.
Its stated purposes are to strengthen ties among the member states, coordinate their policies, and promote their common
interests. The Arab league was founded in 1945 in Cairo to lobby for greater independence for Arab British protectorates, and to prevent Jewish
control of Palestine.
The purpose of the League is outlined in the
Arab League pact:
The purpose of the League is to draw closer the relations between
member States and co-ordinate their political activities with the aim of realizing a close collaboration between them,
to safeguard their independence and sovereignty, and to consider in a general way the affairs and interests of the Arab
countries.
It also has among its purposes a close co-operation of the member
States with due regard to the structure of each of these States and the conditions prevailing therein, in the following
matters:
(a) Economic and financial matters, including trade, customs,
currency, agriculture and industry;
(b) (communications, including railways, roads, aviation, navigation,
and posts and telegraphs;
(c) Cultural matters;
(d) Matters connected with nationality, passports, visas, execution of
judgments and extradition;
(e) Social welfare matters;
(f) Health matters.
The Arab League pact states
about Palestine:
"Even though Palestine
was not able to control her own destiny, it was on the basis of the recognition of her independence that the
Covenant of the League of Nations
determined a system of government for her. "
The principles of
self-determination are indeed incorporated in the
Covenant of the League of Nations.
However, it was the League Mandate for Palestine that determined the
system of government for Palestine. That document stated:
"Whereas
the Principal Allied Powers have also agreed that the Mandatory should be responsible for putting into effect the
declaration originally made on November 2nd, 1917, by the Government of His Britannic Majesty, and adopted by the said
Powers, in favor of the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people..."
"Whereas recognition has thereby been given to the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine and to the
grounds for reconstituting their national home in that country.. "
The Arab League was
instrumental in organizing Arab violations of UN General Assembly Resolution 181, and attempted to raise an army for
conquest of the portion allotted to the Jews in Palestine, and, as declared by the League, for the purpose of "ridding
that country of the Jews."
Synonyms and alternate spellings:
Further Information:
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