Arab world unanimously condemns Israel

CAIRO — The Arab world expressed condemnation of Israel for the fighting in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

But leading Palestinians said that besides rhetoric, the Arab world has done nothing.

"We call on the international community, and particularly on powerful states, to act immediately to put an end to the renewed Israeli aggression," Lebanese Prime Minister Salim Hoss said.

The Arab League blamed Israel for the violence. This, as virtually every Arab country issued condemnations of the Jewish state.

In Jordan, Palestinians called for a revolt. More than 1,000 Palestinians demonstrated at the Bakaa refugee camp outside Amman as opposition leaders are planning an anti-normalization conference later this month.

Meanwhile, Gulf, leaders urged for the convening of an Arab summit and called for confrontation with Israel.

In Cairo, the head of the state-supported Al Azhar seminary, Sheik Mohammed Tantawi, called for attacks on Israel. Meanwhile, Egyptian militants called for revenge attacks against Israel.

"Denunciations are no longer effective against the Israeli military machine," Gamaa Islamiya leader Rifai Ahmed Taha "These pigs will only be dissuaded by murder."

But the violence did not affect the current visits by Arab leaders to Cairo. On Monday, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad. Mubarak and Assad agreed to convene a summit to discuss the violence in the West Bank and Gaza.

"From this forum, I call for an Arab summit to meet as quickly as possible," Mubarak said, without suggesting a date.

Later, Libyan ruler Moammar Khaddafy arrives in Egypt.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Mussa said Assad and Mubarak focused on the fighting in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. "There is complete agreement as to the seriousness of the situation and that the negative repercussions would adversely affect the peace process, which is itself in a very precarious state," Mussa said.

In Beirut, Palestinians in Lebanon and loyal to Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat warned of military attacks against Israel. Hizbullah deputy chief Naim Kassem called for a meeting of the United Nations.

"Does not this dangerous development deserve a meeting of the Security Council to adopt deterrent measures and tight sanctions in confrontation of this Israeli criminality?" Kassem asked.

In Paris, French Foreign Minister Herbert Vedrine and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright criticized last week's visit by Likud opposition leader Ariel Sharon to Jerusalem's Temple Mount. Vedrine blamed the Sharon visit for the subsequent clashes.

"I deplore the violence which has resulted," Vedrine said. "I call on the two sides to show their sense of responsibility, to stop the spiral of violence and to intensify their efforts for peace."

Vedrine will later meet with PA International Cooperation Minister Nabil Shaath in Paris.