ABSTRACT
The creation of Israel in Arab Palestine in 1948 usurped what is to the Arabs an integral part of the Arab world and encouraged Arab statesmen to band together in the face of a common threat. The Arab League, established in 1945, became a more compelling Arab political force in 1948. Ever since Middle Eastern oil became ‘a decisive if not vital commodity for the Western powers and hence of great international political value’, Arab nationalists have striven hard to politicize Arab oil and bring it under the League’s political influence. One of the main objectives of holding an Arab Petroleum Congress annually and a Petroleum Exhibition every four years was to promote petroleum knowledge among the Arabs and create a petroleum consciousness. The Department of Petroleum Affairs prepared memoranda, documents and research reports needed for the meetings of Arab officials dealing with oil matters.
