arab
league
EDGE
mun
2017
arab league
LETTER FROM CHAIRS
Dear Delegates,
Welcome to the Arab League Committee! I hope you are as excited as we are to
delve into the complexities of defining and finding a solution to combat terrorism.
Before the committee, it is crucial that each delegate spends some time researching about his/her country and its relations with nations and organizations related to the Arab League. In addition, we ask that you write a brief position paper
summing up your country’s policies and interests dealing with the Arab League
and combatting terrorism. For this committee to work well, every delegate must
be active and ultimately willing to work with others to come to a solution.
Good luck, and we can’t wait to see you in committee soon!
Sincerely,
Ben Pace and Amanda Fernandes
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ab-Israeli war of 1948. The states of the Arab League formed a
Introduction
military coalition to attack Israel - this military coalition was
eventually defeated by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
The Arab League is a regional body made up of twen-
ty-two member states in Northern Africa and the Arabian
Historians believe the loss was, in part, attributed to
Peninsula. Today, members include Algeria, Bahrain, Co-
the disunity amongst the coalition. States were disorganized
moros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya,
and uncoordinated because different states wanted to incor-
Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, the State of Palestine (the Pales-
porate Palestinian territory into their own countries (Shlaim
tine Liberation Organization), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia,
1). King Abdullah I of Transjordan was the commander of one
Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
military legion while King Farouk of Egypt led an Egyptian
It is important to note that Arabs are not a race, but a group of
legion. Historians believe that King Abdullah wanted to rule
people who speak Arabic and culturally identify with Arabism.
over Transjordan and Israel, but King Farouk saw this as a
It is also important to note that not all Arabs are Muslim; 8% to
threat to Egyptian power (Shlaim 2). As a result, there was no
10% of Arabs are Christian Arabs. Each state in the League has
clear leadership amongst the Arab military coalition and the
a representative in the Council, and each country has only one
counterproductive rivalries between these allies hindered the
vote.
war effort. In essence, they acted as separate armies and could
The Arab League was founded in Cairo on March
not defeat Israel. The outcome of this war should be taken into
22nd, 1945 by seven states: Syria, Transjordan (a British pro-
consideration when crafting plans for modern joint military
tectorate that gained full independence in 1946), Iraq, Saudi
forces.
Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt and the Yemen Arab Republic (North
Yemen). Its founding treaty, the Charter of the Arab League,
today’s issue
emphasizes the sovereignty of the independent states. The goal
of the Arab League is to build relationships with other Arab
Political instability in the Middle East has led to the
nations and protect the welfare of Arab states (“The Avalon
rise of terrorist groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and
Project...” 1). Within the League, states also coordinate on pol-
the Levant (ISIL), Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Lib-
icy and settle disputes (Staff 1). Notable actions taken by the
yan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) and Al Shabab in Yemen.
Arab League include the founding of organizations to foster
Many terror organizations have members all over the world,
economic development. Organizations that encourage eco-
who carry out attacks for the organization. ISIS, which con-
nomic development include the Arab Postal Union, the Arab
tinues to grow in membership and carries out attacks to de-
Development Bank, and the Arab Common Market (which
feat modern ideology, aims to establish a new caliphate and
endorses free trade amongst member states) (“Arab League” 1).
exercise its authority according to an extreme interpretation
In the period following the Arab League’s formation, most
of the Qu’ran. Members of ISIS see Western influence as cor-
states agreed on policy and a common enemy, but each state
rupt and a threat to their teachings, so they attack the West and
had different motives and worked toward independent goals.
even Arab countries. Many times, terrorists carry out attacks
For example, the League members adamantly opposed the for-
against Arab nations because those Arab nations have allied
mation of the Jewish state. The official formation of Israel by
themselves with Western nations; any kind of association with
the United Nations Partition Plan of 1947 resulted in the Ar-
the West is a direct threat to the ideology of terrorist groups.
For example, Saudi Arabia, which works in conjunction with
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Western nations, has seen a number of attacks on its people
rain, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Sudan, Pakistan, Qatar, and
across the last several decades for its partnership with western
Egypt, to carry out airstrikes against the Houthi rebels (Mullen
powers such as the United States and United Kingdom.
1). The United States has also given Saudi Arabia aid in in-
Interestingly, Arab nations are not as involved in fight-
telligence, but has not carried out airstrikes against the rebels
ing extremism militarily as nations like the United States and
(Mullen 1). Saudi Arabia accuses Iran, a predominantly Shi’ite
European countries, despite the Arab nations’ closer proxim-
country, of funneling weapons and other military aid to the
ity to extremist headquarters and strongholds. A coalition led
Houthi rebels, a claim which Iran and the Houthi rebels deny
by the United States sought to increase military action against
(Botelho 1). Analysts suggest that Arab nations are fighting the
ISIS, but “80% of coalition bombing has been by the United
Houthis to combat perceived Iranian influence in the region,
States, with some support from allies in Europe, plus Canada
to gain stability and power, and to protect Arab economic in-
and Australia” (Greene 2).
terests regarding the petroleum industry. Since Arab nations
Political analysts suggest that one reason the Arab
are putting significant amounts of resources into Yemen, many
states are not as involved in fighting extremism is that many
may not want to divert funds toward fighting terrorist groups.
Arab nations are more focused on the conflict in Yemen
(Thompson 2). Throughout most of the 1900s, Yemen existed
for the growth of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP),
as two separate nations: the Yemen Arab Republic (North Ye-
which views the Houthi Shi’ites and US-backed Yemeni forc-
men) and the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (South
es as enemies. AQAP has used Yemen as headquarters to plan
Yemen). In 1990, the countries unified to form the Republic
and launch attacks against the West. ISIS has also increased
of Yemen. Soon, the Southerners wanted to reverse the uni-
influence in Yemen and has claimed responsibility for attacks
fication due to the fear that the Northern government would
against Shi’ite mosques in Sana’a. Thus, Arab military presence
not represent them fairly; civil war broke out and the region
in Yemen is necessary because it keeps the region stable and
quickly became politically unstable.
prevents the Bab al-Mandab Strait from falling into the hands
of terrorists.
Generally, the Southern Yemen is populated by a Sun-
Unfortunately, the instability in Yemen has allowed
ni majority while the North is home to a Zaidi Shi’ite minority.
More recently, Houthi rebels (a Zaidi group) forced President
less inclined to fight terrorist groups because the countries
Hadi of Yemen to flee the capital. Southerners (mainly Sun-
most affected by terrorist groups, like Iraq and Syria, are Irani-
ni muslims) support Hadi, while the Houthis aim to protect
an allies. This issue goes back to the sectarian divide between
Zaidi cultural traditions by taking control of the Yemeni gov-
Saudi Arabia and Iran, which is ultimately a divide between
ernment. In September of 2014, the Houthis took control of
Sunni influence and Shi’ite influence. For this reason, Arab
the Yemeni government and used militias to control Yemen’s
states that oppose Iran would not want to help the Iranian
capital, Sana’a. Still, the Sunni-dominant southern territories
government fight terrorism if the Iranian government could
don’t recognize the Houthis as Yemen’s true government.
handle the issue using its own military force and funding. Al-
Yemen borders the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strait used
though terrorists pose the most direct threat to regions that
to carry 3.8 million barrels of oil out of the Middle East every
they control, groups like ISIS have become large networks with
day, making Yemen an attractive country to carry influence in
affiliates carrying out attacks in the Western world and even
(Bender 1). Saudi Arabia, a predominantly Sunni country, has
Arab states. This increasing worry may force Arab states to
been leading a military coalition, made up of the UAE, Bah-
consider joining forces to put troops on the ground to combat
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Regional experts think that some Arab states may be
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extremism.
geted mosques in Saudi Arabia during Ramadan. Although no
An additional issue that keeps Arab states from defeat-
group has claimed responsibility, terrorist organizations like
ing extremist groups is the existence of regional conflicts be-
ISIS were encouraging attacks to be carried out near holy sites
tween various states. For example, Arab nations disagreed over
in Saudi Arabia. The bombers who carried out the attack were
which organization should control the Egyptian government.
probably linked to or inspired by the Islamic State. The fact
Saudi Arabia supported Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Si-
that ISIS has attacked Muslims in mosques speaks volumes -
si while Qatar supported the Muslim Brotherhood’s influence
they are willing to kill even in the holiest of Muslim temples.
in Egypt. Eventually, the Qatari government removed leaders
of the Muslim Brotherhood from Egypt due to pressure from
alition to fight extremism (and instability) in the Middle East
Saudi Arabia and its allies (Black 1). Saudi Arabia and its al-
in March of 2015. All twenty-two member states agreed to a
lies consider the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization,
joint-force military plan, in which the force could be called
thus complicating the situation if different states disagree on
up if a member nation is attacked (“Arab League Agrees...” 1).
what constitutes a terrorist organization.
Egyptian officials stated that the force would be made up of
Also, tensions between Egypt and Saudi Arabia are
40,000 troops, warplanes, tanks, and warships (“Arab League
increasing. While they are allies, the two countries disagreed
Agrees...” 1). The chair of the meeting, Egyptian president Ab-
during a UN Security Council meeting regarding Syria when
del Fattah Al Sisi, sought military action after terror attacks in
the Saudi Arabian ambassador publically denounced Egypt’s
Egyptian territory. While the plan is a step toward Arabic in-
vote to separate a draft resolution into two resolutions (Hen-
volvement in the combat against extremism, the force is com-
dawi 1). This separation ultimately allowed Russia to continue
pletely voluntary, so no country is legally bound to send troops
intervening in Syria and supporting Syrian President Bashar
to fight in this force. Also, countries can not force other coun-
al-Assad, a regime that Saudi Arabia wants removed (Hendawi
tries to send military troops because such an action would im-
1). Furthermore, Saudi Arabia expects Egypt to send troops to
pede on national sovereignty. In August of 2015, members of
fight in Yemen against the Houthis, but Egypt has yet to send
the League indefinitely postponed the meeting that would rati-
ground troops (although Egypt has provided limited naval
fy the joint force protocol (“Arab League Postpones...” 1). It was
presence in the Red Sea). The unification of Arab nations to
not until April 22, 2016 in a meeting in Cairo when the repre-
fight against ISIS seems unlikely due to conflicts and differing
sentatives of each nation decided to officially start recruiting
policies that further divide the countries, including countries
for an international army against extremism.
that are allies.
The Arab League established an Arab-led military co-
Although many of the nations outside the Arab league
still doubt that a legitimate cooperative army will be effecmore recent developments:
tively created, due to the apparent conflicting interests within
the league, the nations within the league are planning out the
Increasingly violent attacks against Arab states may
details and specific strategies for this new international army.
make military action a more favorable solution for Arab na-
There is also a strong economic incentive in both the Persian
tions. In March of 2016, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
Gulf states and countries of Northern Africa, as this army
claimed responsibility for an attack on an Algerian natural gas
would help with the crucial oil trade going though these coun-
plant, raising concern for the security of infrastructure and en-
tries, presenting itself as a unifying factor for these nations to
ergy plants in the region. In July of 2016, suicide bombers tar-
abide by. Although this “unifying factor” does not necessar-
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ily economically ensure these states of prosperity, it definite-
such as ISIL have alarmed more nations in the Arab League
ly serves as an additional motive for the nations to cooperate
that they must directly fight back, or else their own respective
with each other. Unstable nations such as Lebanon would ben-
nations will become extremely more vulnerable to ISIL attacks.
efit significantly from an increase in stability in oil commerce,
The acts of ISIL to many nations now, such as Saudi Arabia
which would not only help its domestic situation, but help re-
and the majority of the Persian Gulf states, have become in-
store confidence in the power brokers of the Arab League.
tolerable, and more and more representatives are pushing for
In addition to the economic incentive, there are some
a unifying army against the extremist group, most notably in
advantages in technology that can compel some of the less
the meetings from April, 2016 until the present day. After ISIL’s
technologically advanced nations, such as Comoros, Djibouti,
most recent capture of Mosul, currently holding captive 1.5
and Yemen, to push for an army of the Arab League. Nations
million civilians trapped inside the city, the Iraqi army, with
such as Jordan and Egypt have a clear technological advantage
the support of western intelligence, rapidly began retaking
over the less prosperous nations, and an international army
portions of the city, and as of January of 2017 the city is large-
would allow these more developed nations to share their tech-
ly in Iraqi hands. Although this may not seem like a positive
nological ingenuity and wealth with the less prosperous na-
situation, there has been a recent trend in Arab Nations taking
tions within the army. However, this incentive has come up
more effort and action against ISIL attacks, and seems to be
more recently, and is much less significant compared to the
continuously increasing as more nations push for an interna-
cause itself of combatting extremism. Nonetheless, it serves as
tional army to combat extremism. While the attacks of ISIL
a valid and effective additional incentive for the less prosper-
themselves are extremely damaging and controversial in the
ous nations to contribute to the army of the Arab League and
Arab League, they are beginning to serve as an incentive for
encourages cooperation between the more developed and less
nations to increase counter-firepower, which in the long run
developed nations of the Arab League.
can be a positive effect for the Arab League as a whole. How-
The growing dissatisfaction of Western intervention in
ever, in no way are the direct attacks of ISIL positive towards
fighting extremist groups has also led nations such as Saudi
the Arab League; only indirect effects of these attacks have led
Arabia and Egypt to push for plans within the Arab Nation to
Generals and Diplomats alike to shed some light on the tense
combat the radical organizations. Since November, 2015, there
situations within the Arab League.
have been numerous meetings in Cairo, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi,
and Kuwait City regarding an independent push for an inter-
for nations to begin constructing a detailed plan for an inter-
national army of the Arab League. While this can be interpret-
national army to combat extremism, there is still a plethora
ed as offensive to the continuous efforts of the United States,
of major crises between different Arab nations, delaying the
Secretary of Defense Carter has claimed their meetings to be a
building of an army of the Arab League. One major conflict
positive step forward for the Arab League, and supports them
between nations is the ongoing crisis in Lebanon, and the role
taking their military problems into their own hands. Ultimate-
that Iran and Saudi Arabia play in it. As political parties clash
ly, it is the goal of the Arab League to eventually be able to fully
in Lebanon, the Arab Nations slowly withdraw their support
defend for themselves against extremist groups, and an inter-
from the unstable Lebanese government. After Lebanon oddly
national army can be a significant step forward in this process
refused to agree with the the other member nations of the Arab
towards ensuring Arabic sovereignty in the region.
League over a condemnation towards an assault a Saudi repre-
sentative earlier in the year, nations such as Saudi Arabia and
Additionally, the growing power of terrorist groups
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Although there seems to be a variety of incentives
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Iran have been showing disapproval of the Lebanon’s domes-
Muslim Brotherhood should be classified as a terrorist organi-
tic policies and methods of organization. In fact, Saudi Arabia
zation or not- this, along with other extreme jihadist groups,
actually recently cut their budget supporting Lebanon’s army
must be accounted for in the comprehensive solution. Other
and domestic bodies by $4 billion, not only affecting Lebanon’s
conflicts, such as the chaos in Syria, brings much controversy
military sector, but significantly harming Lebanon’s domestic
within discussion in the Arab League, most notably between
media and finance sectors. This has a massive impact on the
more outspoken nations such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
stability of Lebanon’s economy, and can lead to further ten-
sions with Lebanon and other nations.
must be confronted in this committee, and it is our job to take
Additionally, the crisis in Lebanon plays a major role
into account these political, economic, cultural, and military
in the ongoing tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, as the
clashes between nations. Ultimately, only a solution which
financial and military situation of Lebanon is being used as a
deals which each of these conflicts while also including an en-
“battleground” for their conflict. However, it is not just these
compassing solution to combat terrorism will succeed for the
two nations that the crisis in Lebanon is affecting; Lebanon’s
Arab League, and lead to prosperity between the nations.
financial state also plays a role with the Syrian refugee crisis,
with the outcome of the crisis linked directly with the stability
of the Lebanese economy.
Although it seems that Lebanon has an extremely sig-
nificant role in the politics and conflicts of the Arab League,
each and every nation plays its own part in one overarching
problem of chaos in the states. This can include conflicts such
as the political situation in Yemen, or the corruption in Iran
and Syria, or an ongoing conflict in just about any country in
the Arab League. It is these individual conflicts in each state
that eventually add together to create such tension within the
Arab League.
coming to a solution:
It is our job in this committee to find a comprehensive
solution which encompasses each individual nation’s interests
and the collective interests We must create a diverse and overarching plan which (in addition to the individual states) creates
an ultimatum against terrorism and which every nation which
abide by. However, to do this, specific aspects such as the definition of terrorism must be accounted between the different
nations. For example, some of Arab nations, such as Qatar and
Oman, are unable to come to a final conclusion whether the
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There is a vast number of additional conflicts that
Committee
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league
Name
Topic
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
1. Should the Arab League consider a joint
military force? How can you organize this force
in an equitable way?
2. Can all members of the Arab League come to
terms with a single definition of
“terrorist organization”?
3. Is it worth fighting terrorist organizations if an
opposing force can use its own resources?
4. How can the Arab League create an agenda to
work towards a common goal? Is there a way to
address the various conflicts in the region?
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league
Committee
Name
Topic
COUNTRIES IN COMMITTEE
Algeria
Bahrain
Comoros
Djibouti
Egypt
Iraq
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Libya
Mauritania
Morocco
Oman
State of Palestine
(PLO)
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Somalia
Sudan
Syria
Tunisia
United Arab Emirates
Yemen
9
nuclear
disarmament
Committee Name
Topic
WORKS CITED
Agerholm, Harriet. “Saudi Foreign Minister Dismisses Isis Funding Claims as ‘preposterous’” The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 25 July 2016. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.
Almasmari, Hakim, and Jason Hanna. “Yemen Mosque Attacks: ISIS Purportedly Lays Claim.” CNN. Cable News Network, 20 Mar. 2015. Web. 14 Oct. 2016.
Andrea Pacini, ed. (1998). Christian Communities in the Middle East. Oxford University Press
“Arab League.” From The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th Ed. The Columbia University Press, 2016. Web. 6 Oct. 2016.
“Arab League Agrees to Create Joint Military Force.” BBC News. BBC, 29 Mar. 2015. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.
“Arab League Postpones Meeting to Establish Joint Military Force for Regional Interventions.” US News. U.S.News & World Report, 26 Aug. 2015. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.
“Arab Royal Families, ‘wealthy Princes’ Must Stop Financing ISIS – British MPs.” RT International. Autonomous Nonprofit Organization, 12 July 2016. Web. 8 Oct. 2016.
“The Avalon Project : Pact of the League of Arab States, March 22, 1945.” The Avalon Project : Pact of the League of Arab States, March 22, 1945. Department of State Publication, 1957. Web. 8 Oct. 2016.
Bender, Jeremy. “These 8 Narrow Chokepoints Are Critical to the World’s Oil Trade.” Business Insider. Business Insider, 01 Apr. 2015. Web. 08 Dec. 2016.
Black, Ian. “Qatar-Gulf Deal Forces Expulsion of Muslim Brotherhood Leaders.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 16 Sept. 2014. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.
Botelho, Greg, and Schams Elwazer. “Iran Accuses Saudis of Striking Its Yemen Embassy.” CNN. Cable News Network, 8 Jan. 2016. Web. 15 Oct. 2016.
Boyle, Christina, and Zaid Al-Alayaa. “Arab League’s Joint Military Force Is a ‘defining Moment’ for Region.” Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2015. Web. 11 Oct. 2016.
Bryon, Aled. “Egypt Takes Leading Role in Fight on Terrorism.” Egypt Takes Leading Role in Fight on Terrorism. Worldfolio,
2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2016.
Butt, Yousaf. “How Saudi Wahhabism Is the Fountainhead of Islamist Terrorism.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.
com, 20 Jan. 2015. Web. 9 Oct. 2016.
Elwazer, Schams, Hakim Almasmari, and Tiffany Ap. “ISIS Claims Bombing at Yemen Military Camp.” CNN. Cable News Network, 29 Aug. 2016. Web. 9 Oct. 2016.
Greene, Richard Allen, and Schams Elwazer. “Bombing ISIS: Arabs Lag Far behind West.” CNN. Cable News Network, 10 Dec. 2015. Web. 14 Oct. 2016.
Hendawi, Hamza. “Allies Saudi Arabia, Egypt in Rare Public Spat Over Syria.”ABC News. ABC News Network, 10 Oct. 2016. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.
Ibish, Hussein. “A Looming Crisis in Lebanon.” The New York Times. The New York Times Company, 3 May 2016. Web. 15 Oct. 2016.
Ibish, Hussein. “A United Army for the Arab World?” The New York Times. The New York Times Company, 3 May 2015. Web. 15 Oct. 2016.
“Islamic State and the Crisis in Iraq and Syria in Maps.” BBC News. BBC, 10 Oct. 2016. Web. 9 Oct. 2016.
Kästle, Klaus. “Least Developed Countries (LDCs).” Nationsonline.org. Nations Online, n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2016.
10
Committee Name
nuclear
disarmament
Topic
WORKS CITED
Keating, Joshua, and Chris Kirk. “The Middle East Friendship Chart.” Slate Magazine. The Slate Group, 17 July 2014. Web. 13 Oct. 2016.
Lister, Tim. “Saudi Strikes in Yemen: 6 Things to Know.” CNN. Cable News Network, 8 Apr. 2015. Web. 14 Oct. 2016.
Masters, Jonathan, and Mohammed Aly Sergie. “The Arab League.” Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Rela
tions, 21 Oct. 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2016.
Mullen, Jethro. “Why Is Saudi Arabia Bombing Yemen?” CNN. Cable News Network, 26 Mar. 2015. Web. 15 Oct. 2016.
Peled, Daniella. “ISIS and Saudi Arabia: A Dangerous Double Game - ISIS.”Haaretz.com. Haaretz Daily Newspaper, 25 Dec. 2015. Web. 13 Oct. 2016.
Pfeiffer, Alex. “Hillary In Leaked Email: Saudi Arabia And Qatar Are Funding ISIS.” The Daily Caller. The Daily Caller, 10 Oct. 2016. Web. 13 Oct. 2016.
Shlaim, Avi. “Israel and the Arab Coalition in 1948.” Israel and the Arab Coalition in 1948. Cambridge University Press, 2001. Web. 9 Oct. 2016.
Staff, History.com. “Arab League Formed.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.
Thompson, Nick. “War on ISIS: Why Arab States Aren’t Doing More.” CNN. Cable News Network, 17 Dec. 2015. Web. 8 Oct.
2016.
Vltcheck, Andre. “Will Lebanon Be ‘Handed Over’ to ISIS? | New Eastern Outlook.” New Eastern Outlook. NEO, 4 Feb. 2015. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.
Williams, Abigail, and Corky Siemaszko. “ISIS Occupiers in Mosul Will ‘fight to the Death’” NBC News. NBC News, 16 Oct. 2016. Web. 16 Oct. 2016.
“Yemen Crisis: Who Is Fighting Whom?” BBC News. BBC, 14 Oct. 2016. Web. 16 Oct. 2016.
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