Arab League votes to reinstate Syria’s membership after 12-year suspension
PBS NewsHourNov 25, 2022
The Facts
The Arab League's foreign ministers, meeting in Cairo on Sunday, agreed to restore Syria's membership in the pan-Arab bloc after Damascus was suspended following the civil war that broke out in the country more than a decade ago.
While the unanimous decision means that Syria can resume its participation in Arab League meetings, the foreign ministers also stressed their commitment to resolving the Syrian crisis and its humanitarian, security, and political implications.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Syria's readmission to the Arab League was a long overdue step and underscores recent efforts by regional powers to pursue their own policies, independent of the US, to build peace and stability. This will ultimately strengthen the region's position on the world stage. Syria's reintegration into the Arab community, rather than its exclusion as demanded by Washington, is the surest and most effective way to overcome the Syrian crisis and humanitarian hardship. The US' failure in Syria is a victory for peace.
Pro-establishment narrative
The development that the Arab League is now rolling out the red carpet for the Syrian regime — that bloodily crushed pro-democracy protests in 2011 and sparked a vicious civil war — is deeply disappointing and ultimately only strengthens Assad and his allies. Washington will continue to advocate for Syrians' humanitarian relief and security and remains steadfast in its belief that there can be no rapprochement with Syria without credible progress toward a political settlement to the conflict.
