Arab League Chief Calls Islamic State an Existential Threat

CAIRO (AP) — The secretary-general of the Arab League has appealed to Arab countries to find the political will to confront Islamic State insurgents and other militant groups, describing them as an existential threat.

Nabil Elaraby said Sunday the unprecedented challenges facing Arab countries, including the Islamic State group holding territory in Iraq and Syria, chaos in Libya and turmoil in other part of the regions, has tested the 22-member regional group. He said the group often disagrees over what to do or uses the pretext of non-interference to avoid accusation of meddling in each other’s affairs, while saying some wouldn’t refuse a Western intervention.

Elaraby said what is needed from Arab countries is a “clear and firm decision for a comprehensive confrontation” to what he called “cancerous and terrorist” groups.