Arab League votes to reinstate Syria’s membership after 12-year suspension
PBS NewsHourNov 25, 2022
The Facts
On Friday, Syria was welcomed back into the Arab League after more than a decade of isolation following the start of a brutal civil war in 2011.
Saudi Arabia's crown prince said he hoped Syria's return to the Arab League "leads to the end of its crisis," adding Saudi Arabia would "not allow our region to turn into a field of conflicts" as the page had been turned on "painful years of struggle."
The Spin
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.
Establishment-critical narrative
Syria's readmission to the Arab League was a long overdue step, and it underscores recent efforts by regional powers to pursue their own policies — independent of the US — to build peace and stability. 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.
