Using F-16s to kill civilians is very serious escalation
Regional-Palestine, Politics, 5/21/2001

"Israel's use of F-16s to kill Palestinian civilians is a very grave escalation of the situation that requires immediate international intervention to halt the organized killing of Palestinians with the ultimate aim of eliminating them,"the New Arab League Chief said.

Amr Moussa, speaking to the press Saturday, called for urgent international protection in the face of war crimes committed against civilians as part of the official Israeli government policies and instructions executed by the Israeli army.

"Israel's use, for the first time since 1967, of warplanes against the innocent Palestinian people, will be placed on top of the agenda of the Arab follow-up committee meeting Saturday," he said.

Also on top of the agenda will be the extension of urgent financial assistance to the Palestinian people to confront the aggressive Israeli policies, he added.

Moussa urged the international community to take serious political action to stop the unbalanced war in the region and the brutal attacks against Palestinians.

He called for the return to the negotiating table and the abidance by international legitimacy resolutions and signed agreements.

The Egyptian -Jordanian initiative and the Mitchell report provide a sound groundwork on which a just and comprehensive peace in the region can be built, he added.

Reports from Nablus say that Israel has sustained its savage bombardment of the Palestinian territories in reaction to the Palestinian guerrilla operation in Netanya, northern Tel Aviv.

Meantime, many countries condemned Israel's excessive and unjustified use of force against Palestinians.

Russia condemned Israeli bombardment as unjustified acts of aggression.

French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine criticized the Israeli conduct expressing his deep concern over the current escalation.

The United Nations Secretary General described the Israeli reaction as extremely disturbing.

In Washington, the US administration contented with making appeals for halting violence without adopting a clear-cut stance towards the war launched by Israel against Palestinians.

Washington witnessed demonstrations by Arabs and Palestinians calling on President Bush to act to halt Israeli aggression and to stop arms supplies to Israel.

Previous Stories:
  Annan denounces Israeli barbaric acts of aggression   (5/19/2001)
  Arab calls for urgent meetings for the UN Security Council   (5/18/2001)
  An urgent meeting for the Arab follow up committee   (5/17/2001)

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