Statement by the Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Attaf, at the 165th Regular Session of the Council of the League of Arab States at the Ministerial Level

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Peace and blessings be upon His truthful and trustworthy Prophet

Thank you, Mr. President.

At the outset of my statement, I wish to express my sincerest solidarity with the brotherly Arab countries that have been targeted by unjustified and unacceptable Iranian military attacks, in the context of the dangerous military escalation currently unfolding in the Middle East region. Our condolences and heartfelt sympathy go out to the families of the victims, our sincere wishes for a speedy recovery to the wounded, and our earnest hopes that all our brothers may overcome the consequences of the catastrophic material losses they have endured.

This stance, which the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, has continuously expressed to his brothers, Their Majesties, Excellencies and Highnesses, from the Arab countries affected by the repercussions of this escalation, transcends circumstantial or immediate considerations to become part of a deeply rooted principled commitment. This is the commitment reaffirmed by the President of the Republic through his dedication to maintaining constant and regular communication with his brothers and Arab counterparts during this critical phase in the history of the Middle East and the Arab world as a whole.

Just yesterday, the first month of the dangerous military escalation in the Middle East came to a close, amid growing threats of further intensification and expansion, while simultaneously, faint signs of calm have emerged which we hope, despite their weakness and tenuousness, will soon prevail on the scene.

In this context, Algeria reiterates its call to the conflicting parties to abandon the logic of escalation and military force, and to prioritize dialogue and diplomacy in resolving all differences, regardless of their diversity, sensitivity and complexity.

The history of the region, both recent and distant, remains the best witness to the catastrophic consequences of military interventions, and confirms that the logic of force has only generated greater insecurity and instability for everyone, without exception.

In the midst of this frantic and accelerating escalation, we cannot turn a blind eye to brotherly Lebanon, which is facing brutal Israeli military aggression, attempting to replicate on its soil the crimes committed and still being committed against the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza. Our hearts are also with our brothers in Iraq, who are suffering military attacks from all parties to the conflict in the region.

At the same time, this escalation must not distract us from our central cause, the Palestinian cause. The Palestinian people continue to endure violations by the Israeli occupier, the escalating crimes of its settlers, as well as obstructions to humanitarian relief efforts.

The Palestinian cause remains, through the succession of events, the essence of the conflict in the Middle East. The denial of Palestinian national rights remains the primary cause of the destabilization of the region’s security and stability. Our conviction remains firmly rooted that escaping the spiral of violence, insecurity and instability in the region will not be achieved unless the Palestinian cause is given the attention, follow-up and care it deserves.

Thank you, Mr. President.