As part of the 33rd session of the Arab League Council at the summit level, known as the "Bahrain Summit," Arab leaders are scheduled to meet in the Bahraini capital, Manama, tomorrow, Thursday, to discuss several important issues related to joint Arab action. However, this summit is taking place under extraordinary circumstances, with the agenda for discussions including eight main items addressing various issues related to joint Arab work in political, economic, social, cultural, media, and security fields, as well as cooperation with international and regional organizations.
The political aspect makes up about 70% of the items presented to the Arab leaders, according to officials from the Arab League, especially with the multiple crises in the region, primarily the situation in Gaza. The first agenda item includes a report from the second thirty-second summit, "Jeddah Summit," regarding the activities of the Follow-up Committee for implementing decisions and commitments, in addition to a report from the Secretary-General of the Arab League on the progress of joint Arab work.
The Palestinian issue is at the top of the "Bahrain Summit" agenda, especially amidst the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip since October, with expectations that the summit will issue important decisions regarding this file. The second item covers various topics, including monitoring political developments concerning the Palestinian cause and the Arab-Israeli conflict, activating the Arab Peace Initiative, developments and violations in Jerusalem, supporting the budget of the State of Palestine and the resilience of the Palestinian people, monitoring developments in settlement activities, the separation wall, prisoners, refugees, the situation of UNRWA, as well as development in the Palestinian territories, and discussing the Golan Heights issue.
The summit's agenda also includes a section on Arab affairs and national security, encompassing several topics including solidarity with Lebanon, the situation in Syria, support for peace and development in Sudan, developments in Libya, and the latest updates in the Yemeni file. This section includes support for Somalia and the Comoros, reinforcing the necessity for a peaceful resolution to the Djiboutian-Eritrean border dispute, and the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and its related water dispute between Egypt and Sudan on one side and Ethiopia on the other. Additionally, the agenda includes Iranian and Turkish interventions in Arab affairs, despite Arab assurances of not focusing on this issue.
The agenda also covers international political affairs, discussing topics such as the second Arab-Chinese summit hosted by Beijing, establishing a partnership forum between the Arab League and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and supporting Egypt's candidate Dr. Khaled Al-Anani for the position of Director-General of UNESCO.
The fifth agenda item will discuss economic, social, media, and legal affairs, containing several files including monitoring Arab interactions with climate change issues, the revised Arab strategy on human rights, discussing the joint Arab media strategy to combat terrorism, securing Arab national security and counter-terrorism efforts, and developing the Arab system to combat terrorism, along with draft resolutions presented by the Preparatory Economic and Social Council for the Bahrain Summit.
There is also a plan from the Economic and Social Council that contains 12 items, led by the emergency response plan to address the economic and social repercussions of Israeli aggression on Palestine, added to the agenda based on the note from the Permanent Delegation of the State of Palestine at the end of last December.
The agenda includes presenting the Secretary-General's report on joint Arab development work, progress on the free trade agreement, the Arab youth, peace, and security strategy, and Arab cooperation in technology and innovation, alongside showcasing the successful experience of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the health sector. Additionally, it includes establishing the Arab Customs Union, as well as the 2023-2028 Arab youth, peace, and security strategy, proposals from the Arab League Secretariat regarding the Arab Vision 2045: Achieving Hope through Thought, Will, and Action, a note from Bahrain on Arab cooperation in financial technology, innovation, and digital transformation, a proposal from the UAE regarding the Arab Observatory for Women's Economic Development, and a decision from the Arab Water Ministers Council regarding the Arab Water Security Strategy in the Arab region to address future challenges and sustainable development requirements - updated (2020-2030).
It is worth noting that the 2024 Arab Summit, or the 33rd Arab Summit, or Bahrain Summit, is the thirty-third meeting of the Arab League Council scheduled to be held tomorrow in Manama. The final items on the summit's agenda include drafting the final statement of the Bahrain Summit, determining the date and location of the next summit, along with any other new business.
In preparation for the Arab Summit, the streets of the Kingdom of Bahrain have been adorned with Arab flags, pictures of leaders, and welcoming banners. Videos from the Kingdom's streets and bridges show large banners featuring the image of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa alongside welcoming phrases for the summit's guests, including "Welcome to the guests of His Majesty the King in the land of Arabism and peace - Bahrain Summit," "Bahrain is the home of Arabs," and "Welcome to the leaders of the nation in the Bahrain of Arabism."
