Ashraf AboArafe
The Arab Parliament concluded its four permanent committees’ preparatory meetings in Cairo today, under the leadership of His Excellency Saad bin Sulaib Al-Otaibi, President of the Arab Parliament. These sessions paved the way for the first session of the third meeting of the fourth legislative term, scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, at the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States.
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Foreign Affairs, Political, and National Security Committee: Reviewed regional political and security developments, the report of the subcommittee studying a parliamentary vision on foreign interventions, a report on last July’s official visit to the Pan-African Parliament, and the committee’s proposed action plan for the new legislative term.
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Economic and Financial Affairs Committee: Examined the updated draft of the Arab Model Law on Artificial Intelligence and its executive bylaws, alongside a report concerning developments in the Palestinian economic situation and trade restrictions.
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Legislative and Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee: Discussed a memorandum for drafting an Arab model law on digital justice and remote litigation, as well as a framework for protecting human rights amid supply chain disruptions and strategic commodity shortages.
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Social, Educational, Cultural, Women, and Youth Affairs Committee: Focused on enhancing community mediation, protecting youth in the digital environment, and organizing digital content creation. It also reviewed upcoming workshops and seminars addressing e-learning, healthcare in conflict zones, heritage protection, and societal values.
A Global Parliamentary Initiative for Palestine
Under the leadership of His Excellency Saad Al-Otaibi, the Arab Parliament’s Palestine Committee launched a global parliamentary initiative to champion the Palestinian cause, mobilizing international parliamentary support to end the Israeli occupation and hold violators accountable.
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Shifting from Solidarity to Action: The initiative emphasizes turning political solidarity into active parliamentary pressure, utilizing international accountability tools, and documenting violations.
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Defending Rights and Sanctuaries: Key priorities include halting attacks on Palestinian prisoners, protecting the Al-Aqsa Mosque and holy sites in occupied Jerusalem, and ensuring the continued operations of UNRWA.
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Ending the Blockade and Displacement: The committee called for an urgent international response to stop the destruction, starvation, and forced displacement in Gaza, secure unhindered humanitarian aid, and launch reconstruction under exclusive Palestinian governance while rejecting any partition or displacement plans.
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Challenging Violations and Reaffirming Sovereignty: The initiative condemns escalating settler violence and illegal expansion in the West Bank, urges full United Nations membership for Palestine, and calls on Colombia to reverse its decision to open an embassy in occupied Jerusalem.
President Al-Otaibi concluded by stressing that the initiative serves as an open invitation to global parliaments and unions to translate international law into concrete action, bringing an end to the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
