Arab League Urges Global Efforts to Build a Safer Future for Generations

File photo of a previous meeting of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)
File photo of a previous meeting of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Arab League Urges Global Efforts to Build a Safer Future for Generations

File photo of a previous meeting of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)
File photo of a previous meeting of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Arab League has called for urgent action to create a safer world for future generations, stressing the need to protect vulnerable groups, including migrants, and strengthen their resilience.
In a statement issued on Wednesday to mark International Migrants Day, observed annually on December 18, the Arab League emphasized the importance of maximizing migrants' contributions to sustainable development in both host and origin countries.

It also underscored the need to combat racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and all forms of discrimination to foster social cohesion and cultural dialogue, adding that these objectives align with global frameworks such as the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, and the Pact for the Future.
The statement referenced initiatives led by Bahrain, as outlined in the declaration of the 33rd Arab Summit held on May 16, 2024.

These initiatives include providing educational services to those affected by regional conflicts, particularly those deprived of formal education due to security challenges, displacement, and migration. The initiatives also aim to improve healthcare for conflict-affected populations.
Highlighting the ongoing global crises, the General Secretariat of the Arab League noted that instability, poverty, underdevelopment, and climate change are driving unprecedented migration flows. "Millions of migrants face an uncertain and unpredictable future due to wars, armed conflicts, poverty, and climate challenges. This reality underscores the urgent need to address the root causes of instability to prevent future generations from undertaking dangerous journeys in search of safety and opportunity," the statement said.
The Arab League called for sustainable solutions that balance immediate humanitarian assistance with long-term development strategies. It stressed the importance of promoting sustainability based on the interests of future generations, ensuring a comprehensive approach that addresses conflict, violence, and poverty while fostering global cooperation.



Israeli Settlers Briefly Crossed into Lebanon, the Military Says

UN "blue line" notifications are pictured near the Lebanese-Israeli border as seen from the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, Lebanon October 14, 2022. (Reuters)
UN "blue line" notifications are pictured near the Lebanese-Israeli border as seen from the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, Lebanon October 14, 2022. (Reuters)
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Israeli Settlers Briefly Crossed into Lebanon, the Military Says

UN "blue line" notifications are pictured near the Lebanese-Israeli border as seen from the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, Lebanon October 14, 2022. (Reuters)
UN "blue line" notifications are pictured near the Lebanese-Israeli border as seen from the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, Lebanon October 14, 2022. (Reuters)

A group of Israeli settlers have briefly crossed the border into Lebanon before they were removed by troops, the military acknowledged Wednesday.

The civilians who crossed the border came from the Uri Tzafon movement, a group calling for Israeli settlement of southern Lebanon. Photos posted by the group online Saturday showed a small group of activists holding signs and erecting tents inside Lebanon while Israeli soldiers were present.

After first denying the reports to Israeli media, the military said Wednesday that civilians had crossed the border “by a few meters” and were removed by troops.

The military called the border breach a “serious incident” and said it was investigating.

“Any attempt to approach or cross the border into Lebanese territory without coordination poses a life-threatening risk and interferes with the IDF’s ability to operate in the area and carry out its mission,” the military said, using the acronym for the Israel Defense Forces.

The settler group Uri Tzafon, which means “Awaken the North” in Hebrew, crossed the border in the area of the Lebanese village of Maroun al-Ras. In the past, the movement has said the area is home to an old Hebrew settlement.

Groups of settler activists also have breached the Gaza border more than once since the Israel-Hamas war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, at one point erecting small wooden tents before they were evacuated by troops. Daniela Weiss, the leader of the movement to resettle Gaza, claims she has entered Gaza twice since the start of the war.

Israel’s settler movement has been emboldened by its current government -- the furthest-right in Israeli history -- and is now seeking to expand to parts of southern Lebanon and the north of the Gaza.