THE MIDDLE EAST: Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia yesterday urged the US and Europe to halt Israel's offensive against Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat, who phoned Arab rulers with urgent appeals for help.
Egyptian President Mr Hosni Mubarak urged US President Mr George Bush to intervene immediately to halt Israel's assault on the Palestinian leadership. Egypt's Foreign Minister, Mr Ahmad Maher, said he had asked his US counterpart, Mr Colin Powell, to do the same. "The only assurances we got were about the personal safety of Mr Arafat," the Egyptian minister stated. "But I think the problem goes much beyond that. . . The actions of the Israelis are unjustifiable in any circumstances."
King Abdullah said Jordan would "spare no effort to find a way out of the present crisis". The Jordanian government spokesman warned that Israel's actions constituted a "threat to regional stability" and called on both sides to resume dialogue as "the only means to solve all outstanding issues."
Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah called upon Israel to "end its aggression" and agree to the "establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital".
Syria's official daily, Tishreen, said Israel was "committing war crimes" in the occupied Palestinian territories.
