Speech by H.E. the Minister of State Ahmed Attaf at the opening session of the Arab League Council at the level of Foreign Ministers, during its 166th session, in Cairo on September 7, 2026.

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Prayers and peace be upon the most noble of messengers, our Master Muhammad, and upon his family and all his companions.

Mr. President of the Council,

Your Excellency the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States,

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

At the outset of my remarks, I wish to extend my sincere congratulations to my brother, H.E. Mr. Mohamed Ali Nafti, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, on the fraternal Republic of Tunisia assuming the presidency of our esteemed Council, wishing him every success.

I am likewise pleased to welcome H.E. Dr. Nabil Fahmy in his first participation in the Council of the League at the ministerial level since assuming his duties as Secretary-General of the League of Arab States.

We meet today under extraordinary circumstances marked by successive crises, expanding hotspots of tension, and escalating conflicts—a reality that mandates, now more than ever, that we elevate joint Arab action to meet the challenges and risks facing our nations and peoples amid a highly sensitive, delicate, and volatile international environment.

In this context, I would like to address three core issues:

First: Arab national security is an indivisible whole. Algeria condemns in the strongest terms the attacks targeting the security and stability of our brothers in the Gulf states. We unequivocally reject any infringement upon the sovereignty of Arab states, any threat to their national security, and any violation of their territorial integrity. Accordingly, we reaffirm our support for our brothers in the Gulf and reiterate our rejection of fait accompli policies that turn our region into an arena for conflicts and settling scores that are not ours, serving interests that do not represent us.

Second: The deterioration of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory has reached unprecedented levels, amidst a systematic campaign targeting land, people, and identity to quash the Palestinian cause. From this rostrum, we strongly condemn the policies of the Israeli occupation aimed at altering the geographic and demographic status of the occupied territories.

Algeria affirms that the Palestinian cause will remain the compass guiding joint Arab action. Genuine peace and lasting stability in our region cannot be achieved without enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their legitimate national rights, chief among which is the establishment of their independent, sovereign state with Holy Jerusalem as its capital.

We also reiterate our support and solidarity with our brothers in Syria and Lebanon in the face of ongoing Israeli aggression and expansionist policies, emphasizing the necessity of ending the occupation of all Arab lands.

Third: Our preoccupation with the dangerous developments in the Middle East must not distract us from other equally grave crises. In Libya, Sudan, Yemen, and Somalia, crises persist that have exhausted states, burdened populations, and depleted resources. In this regard, Algeria reaffirms its principled position: solutions to crises in Arab states must be national, inclusive, and free from foreign interference, which has brought nothing but further division, complexity, and suffering.

What these crises demonstrate—despite their varying causes and trajectories—is the Arab world's need for a stronger posture, greater coordination, deeper solidarity, and more effective joint Arab action. Here lies the pivotal responsibility of the League of Arab States.

From this standpoint, Algeria appreciates the Secretary-General's vision for reform and reiterates its steadfast support for plans to enhance the efficiency of our Arab League, emphasizing that the current juncture calls not for superficial adjustments, but for deep, comprehensive reform in the fullest sense of the word.

In conclusion, the present moment leaves no room for hesitation, half-measures, or compromise. It does not permit us to be mere passive observers of surrounding events or to remain divided and hostage to narrow interests. This critical moment demands that we stand united and cohesive, working in good faith and close coordination to serve our common interests and defend our just causes. We must either actively shape the future of our region, or allow that future to fall hostage to external rivalries and agendas.

Thank you for your kind attention. May the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you.