Arab Foreign ministers stand for a moment of silence during an emergency meeting in Cairo The Arab League has condemned Israel’s actions against civilians in an emergency meeting yesterday in Cairo. The Arab League demanded an immediate ceasefire and held Israel responsible for the human losses and the material damage. They also urged Arab nations to send humanitarian food and medical supplies to Gaza.
The Arab League expressed their indignation about the United Nation Security Council’s failure to end the military offensive against Gaza. The statement also demanded Israel to stop assassinating Palestinian leaders and urged the UNSC to take on its chartered responsibility for international “peace and security” by taking measures to deter Israel.
The convening council of foreign ministers also resolved to form an open ministerial committee that will visit the Gaza Strip as an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people. The meeting tasked the Arab Peace Initiative Committee to “reassess” the situation in Gaza and deal immediately with any humanitarian needs.
The committee was also tasked with reviewing the feasibility of the Quartet Committee in light of its failure to achieve any advances towards peace.
The ministerial committee is also set to investigate and question “the international methodology and its mechanisms as implemented in the treatment of the Palestinian issue and the Arab-Israeli conflict,” and pushing for a methodological change on the basis of benchmarks of international legitimacy. These procedures are geared towards “ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine.”
The committee will present its report in an urgent meeting of the Arab League council in preparation of the next Arab summit.
Demanding Israel stop threatening President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas, the statement called for support of the Palestinian Authority’s bid for the status of non-member observer state in the United Nations.
Speaking at the meeting, the Arab League’s current chairman, Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour described the current events in the Middle East as an “Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.” This “aggression,” he said, displays “contempt for and disregard of” the Arab nation as well as being “a glaring violation” of Palestinians’ rights.
The Lebanese diplomat urged a “stand of dignity” in the face of “the Israeli aggression” which he said “has lasted for 64 years.”
Referring to an alleged Israeli strike on Sudan, Mansour warned that “this aggression might reach us unless we stop it now.”
He said that what the Palestinian people needed was “a brave and honourable stand” expressing Arab “energies and abilities,” as opposed to “dictated” and “unjust” decisions by others who “reward” Israel which he said was built on “the dismembered bodies of Palestinian.”
Mansour also lamented the Arab world’s inability “sadly so far” to impose its will by “rescuing the people of Palestine from the catastrophe and injustice to which it was subjected in 1948.”
“Palestine calls on us today and urges us to make wise, courageous decisions,” Mansour said. Referring to Israel as a “terrorist” and a “rogue” state, Mansoor urged “strict political and economic measures” against Israel. He listed these as follows:
1. Bringing Israeli officials responsible for “war crimes” to justice before international courts
2. Freezing Israel-Arab relations and canceling peace treaties
3. Demanding a stand of conscience to end this “assault” from our “European and international partners”
4. Proceeding with the Palestinian Authority’s request for the status of non-member observing state before the United Nations, thus “placing the world’s nations before their moral and legal responsibilities towards the people of Palestine.”
5. Reactivating the Arab boycott of Israel, also boycotting non-Arab corporations that deal with Israel.
6. Opening border crossings to facilitate the transport of humanitarian aid
Government sources have told Arabstoday that a senior delegation of Arab foreign ministers led by Secretary-General Nabil al-Araby, will pay a visit to the Gaza Strip on Sunday morning. The delegation will also include the foreign ministers of Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Algeria, who will be accompanied by Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki.