Why in news? The Arab League  welcomed back Syria’s government, ending a more than decade-long suspension and securing President Bashar al-Assad’s return to the Arab fold after years of isolation.

Highlights:

• Syria’s participation has been suspended since November 2011, as a consequence of government repression during the Syrian Civil War.

About Arab League:

• Arab League, also called League of Arab States (LAS) is a regional organization of Arab states in the Middle East and parts of Africa.
• Formation: It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945.The founding member states were Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Transjordan (now Jordan), Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.
• Headquarters: Cairo, Egypt.
• Objective: To strengthen ties among member states, coordinate their policies and direct them towards a common good.
• Members: Currently it has 22 members including Palestine, which the League regards as an independent state.
• Council: The highest body of the league is the Council, composed of representatives of member states, usually foreign ministers, their representatives or permanent delegates.
• The League makes decisions on a majority basis, but there is no mechanism to compel members to comply with resolutions.
• Each member has one vote on the Council, decisions being binding only on those states that have voted for them.