The Cairo-based Arab League and the Egyptian-led Arab group at the UN have stepped up pressure on the Security Council to debate the threat to regional security posed by Monday's Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
The 15 members of the council met yesterday with the Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, to consider proposals for sending a protection force for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.
The initiative was launched in the wake of Tuesday's decision by Cairo to recall its ambassador to Israel, Mr Muhammad Bassiouni. The Egyptian President, Mr Hosni Mubarak, responded to a call by the US for the envoy's early return by saying that he would go back to Tel Aviv "when the violence stops".
Egypt's ambassador was recalled during Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon and returned four years later. Mr Mubarak yesterday met the Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat, who had postponed a scheduled visit to Cairo until the ambassador was recalled.
If Egypt, an Arab moderate, is to exercise leadership of the Arab bloc it needs to maintain good relations with Mr Arafat. Mr Arafat is holding consultations today with Arab finance ministers to secure urgently needed financial aid for Palestinians deprived of their livelihood by the eight-week uprising.
The Jordanian Information Minister, Mr Taleb Rifai, said that the kingdom would continue to "suspend formalities for the accreditation of the new ambassador".
Qatar, under strong pressure from Saudi Arabia, closed down Israel's trade mission in Doha last month.
Oman, Morocco and Tunisia closed their commercial offices and those of Israel several weeks earlier.
The only league member to retain its representation is Mauritania, which is not directly involved in the dispute.
