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Arab League Sec-Gen Calls for Strengthening Arab-Japanese Collaboration across Diverse Sectors

Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Arab League Sec-Gen Calls for Strengthening Arab-Japanese Collaboration across Diverse Sectors

Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit emphasized the importance of expanding the Arab-Japanese partnership and transforming it into a future strategic alliance with tangible outcomes across various sectors.
During his speech at the fifth Japan-Arab Economic Forum in Tokyo, Aboul Gheit called for the expansion of partnership mechanisms to encompass new areas, including leveraging technology to address climate change, mitigating disaster risks, advancing smart transportation, promoting tourism, ensuring information security, advancing artificial intelligence, smart housing, and education. These areas present promising investment and cooperation opportunities between the two sides, SPA reported.
He highlighted that this forum serves as a foundation for enhancing collaboration in other domains, building upon the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Arab League and the Japanese government in 2013, which established a comprehensive institutional framework for Arab-Japanese collaboration. Additionally, the launch of political dialogue in 2017 aimed to exchange views on the latest international developments and crises.
Aboul Gheit underscored that Japan remains a crucial partner for Arab countries, with bilateral trade increasing from $114 billion in 2022 to nearly $140 billion since the beginning of 2024.
He reaffirmed the Arab League's readiness to discuss and implement ideas and initiatives that enhance the role of this forum in collaboration with Arab organizations, specialized ministerial councils, and all Arab and Japanese partners. He expressed confidence that the forum will yield results, generate ideas, and propose initiatives that strengthen Arab-Japanese economic cooperation.

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Lebanon Awaits UNIFIL Extension Draft, Seeks No Amendments

A UNIFIL patrol in the town of Barj al-Muluk in southern Lebanon (DPA)
A UNIFIL patrol in the town of Barj al-Muluk in southern Lebanon (DPA)
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Lebanon Awaits UNIFIL Extension Draft, Seeks No Amendments

A UNIFIL patrol in the town of Barj al-Muluk in southern Lebanon (DPA)
A UNIFIL patrol in the town of Barj al-Muluk in southern Lebanon (DPA)

Lebanon is awaiting a draft resolution from France to extend the UN peacekeeping mission in the south (UNIFIL) without changes, amid talks with key international powers to support its request for an extension.

The UN Security Council is expected to renew UNIFIL’s mandate in late August, as it has annually since Resolution 1701 was adopted in 2006 after a 33-day war between Lebanon and Israel.

Lebanon wants the extension without amendments, while Israel seeks more powers for the peacekeepers, including access to restricted areas in southern Lebanon.

Diplomatic sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib, currently in New York, has held numerous meetings with key stakeholders regarding Lebanese affairs.

The sources, who requested anonymity, said Lebanon is awaiting a draft resolution prepared by France, the penholder on this issue.

France usually drafts the resolution and presents it to the UN Security Council (UNSC), which sometimes makes changes.

In 2022, for example, the UNSC allowed UNIFIL to operate without coordinating with the Lebanese Army, which led to criticism.

In 2023, Lebanon opposed this change, arguing it did not reflect the need for UNIFIL to work with the Lebanese government and military as required by the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).

Recently, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri met with Russian Special Envoy Vladimir Safronkov to discuss Lebanon and regional issues, including Israeli actions in Lebanon and Gaza.

As Lebanon negotiates the extension of UNIFIL’s mandate, it has not yet received any international messages about potential amendments, despite reports of Israeli demands that Lebanon opposes.

This extension comes amid ongoing conflict that began on Oct. 8, when Hezbollah started supporting Gaza from southern Lebanon.

Retired Lebanese Army Gen. Abdul Rahman Shehaitly, former head of Lebanon's delegation to the Tripartite Committee (Lebanon, Israel, and UNIFIL), views international acceptance of the UNIFIL extension as a “very positive development amid the ongoing war.”

He explained that it signals no expansion of the conflict and underscores that stability in the south remains a priority for the participating countries.

He added that the mere presence of UNIFIL and the lack of any withdrawals “provides assurances that the conflict will not escalate.”