Egypt and Syria yesterday urged the international community to halt Israel's attacks on the Palestinians.
After an emergency summit in Damascus, a communique from the Egyptian President, Mr Hosni Mubarak, and the Syrian President, Dr Bashar al-Assad, said: "The dangerous situation created by the Israeli attacks on the unarmed Palestinian people constitutes a threat against the people of the region and the efforts to establish a just and comprehensive peace."
The two leaders demanded that the US, the EU, Russia and the UN "assume their responsibilities and put an immediate end to the attacks, assassinations and destruction inflicted on Palestinians in the occupied territories."
They rejected "Israel's allegation that it acts in self-defence". The summit was held after Arab foreign ministers decided to postpone a meeting scheduled to be held in Qatar yesterday ahead of the gathering of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, which convenes today.
Concern is running high in the Muslim world that Israel is determined to kill or exile the Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat.
On Friday, Mr Bulent Ecevit, the Turkish Prime Minister, revealed that during a telephone conversation last week the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, "openly expressed his intention to get rid of Mr Arafat".
Mr Ecevit said Mr Arafat was an "irreplacable leader" and that the "situation in the region can only get worse if Mr Arafat is eliminated".
Mr Mubarak, speaking after his foreign minister returned from Israel without securing a promise that attacks would cease, also warned that there would be chaos in the Middle East if the Israelis killed Mr Arafat. It would not only be a crime against the Palestinian people but also against the Israelis.
Several leaders will emerge \in the Palestinian territories and each one will attempt to increase his popularity by carrying out violence, he said.
