Ovadia's statements Anti-Semitic

"Communication channels are still open between Egypt and parties concerned with the Middle East peace process to stop the deterioration in the region," Amr Moussa said.

However, Moussa added, the Israeli side was still insisting on carrying on with its violence in the Palestinian territories, which further complicated matters.

Commenting on Israeli Rabbi Ovadia Youssef's call for firing missiles at the Arabs to annihilate them, Moussa dismissed the call as sheer folly and said it expressed an anti-Semitic view and invited genocide.

"In view of what the Rabbi said, it is clear that anti-Semitic calls are now coming from the Jews themselves," Moussa said, describing this as a serious development.

He underlined the importance of responding to such stupid talk by a clear message: "It is an unacceptable, racist speech showing the Israelis' hatred to the Arabs."

Moussa was surprised at the blame leveled at the Arabs for some statements, which could never be compared to Youssef's clearly racist remarks.

Queried whether the Egyptian- Jordanian initiative was intended to stop violence, Moussa said it rather aimed to handle the deteriorating situation in the Middle East.

On whether there was any Arab move at the UN Security Council to respond to mounting Israeli aggressions on the occupied territories, Moussa said there was consultation in the Council to follow up the issue.