Situation in ME becomes more grave
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat called on Wednesday for convening an emergency Arab summit to face the Israeli military escalation.
Arafat said he will discuss the call with Jordanian king Abdullah II in his capacity as current chairman of the summit.
On his return to Gaza coming from Cairo late Wednesday, Arafat said he proposed to the Arab Follow-up Committee summit to stand up for the Israeli escalation.
The committee's emergency meeting had seriously discussed the related issues and yielded important and positive outcomes, including things that will be announced and other things to be carried out taciturnly, said Arafat.
He cited the crimes being perpetrated on a daily basis by the flocks of settlers, the assassinations being carried out on the broad daylight, the humiliation of Palestinians and withholding the money due to the Palestinian Authority.
Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Ahmad Korei said the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories requires the holding of an Arab summit.
In statements carried by the Palestinian Satellite Channel, Korei said it became clear that Israel was rejecting all international initiatives and efforts exerted to help return the region back to normal.
Korei voiced astonishment at the US's lax stance with regard to Israel's constant aggressions on defenseless Palestinians.
The PLO chief asserted Palestinian diplomatic moves were under way at the highest level to put an end to Israel's atrocities.
Secretary-General of the Palestinian Cabinet Ahmad Abdrrahman, on his part, considered Israeli military build-ups in the West Bank a grave escalation, threatening to torpedo what little calm was achieved.
Abdrrahman called anew for deploying observers in the Palestinian territories.
Meanwhile, the Arab follow-up committee rejected Israeli government policies and condemned Sharon for wriggling out of all agreements and understanding.
The committee said the Israeli government violated the rules of the international law and described Israel as a rogue state.
The committee called for providing international protection to Palestinians and implementing Mitchell committee recommendation.
The participants of the committee meeting called on Genoa summit to work for providing international protection to Palestinians.
They decided to earmarK $45 million annually to the Palestinian Authority till the end of this year.
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said Wednesday the Arab Follow-up Committee's statement reflected an important Arab political stance and was a message to Israel.
The committee, earlier in the day, asserted its stance in support of the Palestinian people and leadership in the face of Israel's policies.
It also welcomed Saudi Arabia's proposal on allocating monthly $ 45 million to the Palestinian Authority.
Moussa said the statement highlighted that the Palestinian resistance was not violence, rather a legitimate right in the face of occupation forces.
The ongoing Israeli policy is one of a rogue government, Moussa quoted the statement as saying.
Asked about the Mitchell peace plan which was not included in the committee's statement, Moussa said the ongoing situation pressed us to return first to the UN Security Council resolution 242, especially after Israel's failure to comply with already signed agreements.
Khatib unveiled there were still moves inside the UNSC with regard to holding an emergency General Assembly meeting with the aim of providing the hoped-for- intentional protection in the occupied Palestinian territories.