Egyptian diplomat Nabil Fahmy appointed as new Arab League chief

Arab overseas ministers connected Sunday appointed seasoned Egyptian diplomat Nabil Fahmy arsenic nan caput of nan 22-member Arab League, astatine a clip nan Middle East is plunged successful a monthlong Iran warfare that shows nary motion of abating.

Fahmy, a erstwhile Egyptian overseas minister, won nan support of nan Arab overseas ministers successful a virtual meeting, according to nan Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

Fahmy's five-year word will commencement successful July, succeeding Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who served arsenic Arab League main since 2016.

His assignment came arsenic Iran's Arab neighbors are reeling from attacks by Iran and its proxies successful consequence to monolithic airstrikes launched by nan U.S. and Israel since Feb. 28.

Fahmy was nan only nominee for nan post, arsenic it is simply a long-held protocol that Egypt arsenic big of nan Arab League traditionally nominates nan caput of nan assemblage since its constitution successful 1945. The only clip a non-Egyptian — Tunisian diplomat al-Shazly al-Qalibi — was appointed to nan station was successful 1979, aft Egypt’s rank was suspended pursuing its bid pact pinch Israel.

Egypt rejoined successful 1989, pinch nan office of nan Arab League returning to Cairo and a caller Egyptian secretary-general appointed successful 1990.

Fahmy, 75, served arsenic Egypt’s apical diplomat betwixt July 2013 and June 2014, erstwhile Egypt was successful turmoil pursuing nan subject overthrow of an elected Islamist president whose one-year norm proved divisive. Fahmy was Egypt’s ambassador to nan United States betwixt 1999 and 2008.

He besides founded nan School of Global Affairs and Public Policy astatine The American University successful Cairo, and presently serves arsenic nan school’s dean emeritus.

He is nan boy of Ismail Fahmy, nan Egyptian overseas curate from 1973 to 1977. The elder Fahmy had resigned successful protestation of President Anwar Sadat’s historical sojourn to Jerusalem, which paved nan measurement for Egypt becoming nan first Arab state to found negotiated ties pinch Israel.