Lead:
Mahmoud Helmi Al-Sharif, Egypt's Justice Minister, and Nabil Fahmy, Secretary-General of the Arab League, attended the 42nd ordinary session of the Council of Arab Justice Ministers in Algeria on November 11, 2026. The gathering, chaired by Lotfi Boudjemaa, Algeria's Justice Minister, focused on strengthening collective Arab judicial cooperation, implementing anti-terrorism conventions, and establishing mechanisms to document and prosecute alleged violations of international law in Gaza and Lebanon.
Details:
Fahmy opened the session with the principle "the force of law above the law of force," emphasizing that respect for state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence—coupled with civilian protection and rejection of internal interference—form the governing foundation for Arab action. He stressed that equitable application of international law to all parties ensures peace and stability, and called for comprehensive legal documentation of alleged Israeli violations to transform them into integrated legal dossiers for accountability.
Al-Sharif participated in the 77th meeting of the council's executive bureau, where delegates discussed legislative projects and implementation mechanisms for the Arab Convention Against Terrorism. According to El Balad, the ministerial agenda addressed strengthening joint Arab judicial systems to align with accelerating global transformations and their consequences.
The council examined legal and institutional mechanisms to harmonize prosecution standards across Arab states and reinforce capacity to address transnational crimes, humanitarian law breaches, and state-level accountability cases. No binding decisions or formal complaints were announced; the council prepares recommendations for the ministerial level.
Watch For:
— Whether the Arab League initiates formal referrals to international courts or establishes a dedicated documentation body before the next session.
— Implementation timelines for the anti-terrorism convention across member states and resource allocation for joint legal infrastructure.
— Whether Egypt, as a leading regional power, will host or lead future coordination on documentation protocols.