CAIRO: The 163rd session of the Council of the League of Arab States convened on Tuesday at the level of permanent representatives, under the chairmanship of Jordan, to deliberate on pressing Arab issues ahead of the upcoming Arab Summit in Baghdad next month. In his opening remarks, Jordan’s Permanent Representative to the Arab League, Ambassador Amjad Al-Adayleh, stressed the gravity of the current regional climate, warning that the Arab world is navigating one of the most perilous phases in its modern history. “Our Arab nation stands at a difficult juncture, facing multifaceted and geographically expanding crises,” he said.

Ambassador Al-Adayleh reaffirmed that the Palestinian cause remains the central issue in the region, feeding instability and unrest. “The absence of a just and comprehensive solution continues to fuel turmoil. Only through the end of the occupation and the restoration of Palestinian rights can lasting peace be achieved,” he asserted.

Highlighting the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in the West Bank and Gaza, Al-Adayleh emphasized the need for sustained diplomatic action. “There can be no peaceful world without justice for the Palestinian people,” he said, calling for a cessation of hostilities, the launch of reconstruction efforts within the framework of the Arab-Islamic plan, and the revival of serious political negotiations based on the two-state solution.

He reiterated the importance of coordinated Arab action to halt the war, reach a sustainable ceasefire, ensure the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid, and mobilize international support for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). “These remain collective priorities in service of the Palestinian people and their just cause,” he said. Ambassador Al-Adayleh also underscored the League’s broader objectives of promoting political solutions to regional crises, safeguarding the sovereignty of Arab states, and rejecting foreign interference. “We will move forward under the umbrella of the Arab League to support national institutions, enhance stability and defend Arab interests,” he said.

The draft agenda for the session features nine core items encompassing political, economic, legal, social, administrative and financial matters. Chief among them is a review of joint Arab action, including the Secretary-General’s report covering developments since the 162nd session, and preparations for the 34th regular Arab Summit, scheduled to take place in Baghdad on May 17. The Palestinian issue remains high on the agenda, with discussions set to cover political developments, the activation of the Arab Peace Initiative, Zionist violations in occupied Jerusalem, financial support for the Palestinian Authority, water security, and the appropriation of water resources in occupied Arab territories and the Syrian Golan.

Other agenda items address critical Arab and national security concerns, including developments in Libya, Yemen, Sudan and Somalia, as well as solidarity with Lebanon, the situation in Syria, Iran’s occupation of the three UAE islands, Gulf maritime security and energy supply routes. The meeting will also examine the Turkish military presence in Iraq, peace and development in the Horn of Africa, and the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam issue. The agenda further includes items on international political affairs, such as the threat posed by Zionist armament to Arab security, the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, and enhanced Arab cooperation in cybersecurity and information technology.

Additional topics include Arab cooperation with regional and international organizations, climate change, legal frameworks for counterterrorism, and administrative and financial matters. The session will also review progress on initiatives introduced by Bahrain during the 33rd Arab Summit. The permanent representatives will finalize the draft agenda and resolutions during the two-day session, before submitting them for approval at the Arab League Council’s ministerial meeting on Wednesday. Kuwait is represented at the meeting by its Permanent Representative to the Arab League, Ambassador Talal Al-Mutairi. — KUNA