Syria Reinstatement Not on Agenda for Arab League’s Annual Summit

The Arab League is not expected to readmit Syria during its annual summit on March 31. It suspended the Assad regime’s membership eight years ago as the nation descended into a full-blown civil war. “The issue of Syria’s return…has yet to be listed on the agenda and has not been formally proposed,” according to a spokesperson for the pan-Arab bloc. The decision comes as some Arab nations have renewed ties with Damascus, evidencing a growing realization that Assad’s survival is likely a fait accompli. The Arab League’s representative nevertheless confirmed that the “Syrian crisis” would be discussed in detail along with the wars in Yemen and Libya. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict will also be front and center at the summit ahead of the anticipated release of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan. Earlier this month, Syrian officials attended a meeting of regional states for the first time since its Arab League membership was revoked. It came after a December visit by Sudanese President Omar Bashir, the first by any Arab leader to Damascus since 2011. The same month, Egypt hosted Syria’s national security chief. In addition, the United Arab Emirates recently reopened its embassy in the Syrian capital. Meanwhile, the Arab League is expected to strongly condemn Trump’s prospective declaration recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which was captured from Syria during the 1967 war.