Israeli offensive tantamount to war, says Egypt

11.30 am

LONDON - World leaders have called for a halt to the escalating violence in the Middle East and put pressure on Israel to ensure the safety of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat after Israeli troops smashed into his compound.

Arab leaders roundly condemned the assault on Arafat's main West Bank power base, where Israeli troops fought his security forces and demolished walls with armoured bulldozers and tanks.

Israel launched the offensive, described by Egypt as tantamount to a declaration of war, after a Palestinian suicide attack killed at least 22 Israelis. Hours later a Palestininan woman blew herself up in a supermarket, killing herself and two Israelis.

The UN Security Council called an emergency session for later at the initiative of Arab delegates.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell called on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to consider the consequences of Israel's actions but also counselled Arafat to act against militants behind the attacks against Israelis.

"They (Israeli forces) are going in to find terrorists, to pick up weapons and it is not their intention to occupy these areas on a long-term basis," Powell said in Washington.

French President Jacques Chirac echoed the view of the European Union, saying Arafat remained a legitimate authority and Israel's negotiating partner in peace talks. But he also said he was growing increasingly concerned.

"I solemnly appeal to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's and Yasser Arafat's sense of responsibility to take all measures immediately to halt the violence as I am very, very worried," Chirac told France Info radio.

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Israel's announced intention to isolate Arafat was "not the way that could help find a political solution to the current situation".

He called for international intervention to halt the conflict, which he said threatened to spill beyond the region, Interfax news agency reported.

China expressed "serious concern" and called for an immediate ceasefire on both sides. Germany made a similar appeal and Italy, while advising Arafat to rein in militants, told Sharon to guarantee his safety.

Powell said Washington had assurances from Israel that Arafat would not be harmed.

While Western governments exhorted Israelis and Palestinians to halt the violence, Arab leaders pointed the finger at Sharon.

Morocco's King Mohammed said Israel's attack was a challenge to the endorsement at an Arab summit of Saudi peace proposals, which offered Israel normal ties with Arab states in return for its full withdrawal from occupied Arab lands and the creation of a Palestinian state.

"His Majesty...strongly condemns this serious escalation mounted by Sharon's government, which threatens to trigger a total explosion in the Middle East," a statement said.

Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri concurred. "This is not only against Arafat. It is against the peace plan submitted by the Arabs," he said.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, one of Washington's main Arab allies, urged US President George W. Bush to get personally involved to stop the crisis getting any worse.

The sentiment was also voiced by French foreign ministry spokesman Francois Rivasseau: "We continue to plead for the Americans to commit themselves further. It is they who have the most means to reason with the opposing parties."

Qatar, current president of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, said it was in contact with the United States and European nations to consider ways of ordering a halt to Israeli military action.

In both Ankara and Cairo, the Israeli ambassadors were summoned to the foreign ministry and told their army's aggressive actions against the Palestinians must stop.

In less measured tones, Iran condemned what it called the "violent massacre of Palestinians by the Israeli army".

"The Israeli army's attack on Ramallah is another example of obvious aggression and Israel's state terrorism," IRNA news agency quoted foreign ministry spokesman Hamidreza Asefi as saying.

And in Khartoum, Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail told state radio Israel's actions against the Palestinians were worse than the crimes committed by Hitler and the Khmer Rouge.

The latest round of violence brought demonstrators onto the streets around the Arab world.

In Jordan, security forces fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of Palestinians as an anti-Israel march at a refugee camp in Amman erupted into violence. "We cannot stand idly watching our brethren being killed by the Zionists," one young demonstrator said.

In Cairo, worshippers demonstrated in support of Palestinians after Friday prayers at the al-Azhar mosque. The mosque's Grand Sheikh Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi called on Palestinians to persevere and have faith in God, saying that was the way to victory.

Hundreds of Yemenis took to the streets after Friday prayers to protest against Israel's policies.

In Beirut, Lebanonese Information Minister Ghazi al-Aridi told Reuters: "Sharon wants to bring down the Palestinian Authority and reoccupy all the Arab lands."

- REUTERS

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