Protocol for the Treatment of Palestinians in Arab States ("Casablanca Protocol")
| Publisher | League of Arab States |
| Publication Date | 11 September 1965 |
| Cite as | League of Arab States, Protocol for the Treatment of Palestinians in Arab States ("Casablanca Protocol"), 11 September 1965, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/460a2b252.html [accessed 18 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
On the basis of the Charter of the League of Arab States and its special annex pertaining to Palestine, and of the LAS Council resolution concerning the Palestinian issue, and, in particular, of the Special resolution pertaining to safeguarding Palestinian existence,
The Council of Foreign Ministers of Member states agreed, in its meeting in Casablanca on 10 September 1965, upon the following regulations, and called upon member states to take the necessary measures to put them into the sphere of implementation:
(1) Whilst retaining their Palestinian nationality, Palestinians currently residing in the land of ...... have the right of employment on par with its citizens.
(2) Palestinians residing at the moment in ...... in accordance with the dictates of their interests, have the right to leave and return to this state.
(3) Palestinians residing in other Arab states have the right to enter the land of ...... and to depart from it, in accordance with their interests. Their right of entry only gives them the right to stay for the permitted period and for the purpose they entered for, so long as the authorities do not agree to the contrary.
(4) Palestinians who are at the moment in ......, as well as those who were residing and left to the Diaspora, are given, upon request, valid travel documents. The concerned authorities must, wherever they be, issue these documents or renew them without delay.
(5) Bearers of these travel documents residing in LAS states receive the same treatment as all other LAS state citizens, regarding visa, and residency applications.
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The Arab States' Position Regarding the Protocol
The Arab states which supported the Protocol for the Treatment of Palestinians without reservation are:
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
The Algerian Popular Democratic Republic
The Democratic Republic of Sudan
The Republic of Iraq
The Syrian Arab Republic
The United Arab Republic (Egypt)
The Arab Republic of Yemen
The Arab states supporting the Protocol for the Treatment of Palestinians, with reservations are:
The State of Kuwait
The State of Kuwait signed the Protocol whilst reserving its right to interpret the first article of the Protocol on the basis that it excludes the right of 'private business' work on part with Kuwaiti citizens. This reservation was due to the fact that private business has special regulations in the State of Kuwait.
The Republic of Lebanon
The Republic of Lebanon signed the Protocol on 3/8/1966, with the following reservations:
Article One: Palestinians residing at the moment in Lebanon are granted the right of employment, together with the right of keeping their Palestinian nationality, in accordance with prevailing social and economic conditions in the Republic of Lebanon.
Article Two: that the phrase: "on equal terms with the Lebanese citizens and in accordance with the laws and regulations in operation" be added.
Article Three: that the phrases "(whenever their interests demand it)" and "allowing Palestinians into Lebanon is conditional upon their obtaining an entry visa issued by the concerned Lebanese authorities" be added.
Reservations on the Fourth and Fifth Articles
The Kingdom of Libya (Note: Endorsed the Protocol before the 1 September 1969 revolution.)
Libya signed the Protocol voicing reservations about the First Article: "since dealing with Palestinian citizens residing in Libya is on part with and equal to dealing with other Arab citizens residing in Libya."
Arab states which have not as yet approved the Protocol:
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Morocco
The Republic of Tunisia
Arab states joining the League's charter upon signing the Protocol:
Yemen Popular Democratic Republic, 12 December 1967
State of Bahrain, 11 September 1971
State of Qatar, 11 September 1971
Sultanate of Oman, 29 September 1971
United Arab Emirates, 6 December 1971
Islamic Republic of Mauritania, 26 November 1973
Democratic Republic of Somalia, 14 February 1974
State of Palestine, 9 September 1976
Republic of Djibouti, 4 September 1977
