Arab League seeks end to Israel’s violent ‘escalation’ against Palestinians

Arab foreign ministers searched Monday for ways to halt what one called Israel’s “dangerous escalation” of violence against Palestinians.

More than 72 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli occupation forces since the beginning of October.

The current wave of protests and repression started in late July when toddler Ali Dawabsha was burned to death and three other Palestinians were severely injured after their house in the occupied West Bank was set on fire by Israeli settlers.

Palestinian protests were also triggered by an increase in Jewish visitors to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is considered the third holiest site in Islam. Palestinians fear that Israel is preparing to allow Jewish prayers in the mosque, which are not currently allowed.

Settlement-building, racial discrimination, confiscation of identity cards, long queues at checkpoints, as well as daily clashes and the desecration of Al-Aqsa mosque, have been Palestinians’ daily routine.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right government, through the notorious displacement settlement policy and the arbitrary practices against the Palestinians, have deliberately killed any possible opportunity to achieve a just and lasting political solution to the conflict.

“This emergency meeting comes with the dangerous escalation by the Israeli government, the settlers, the Jewish extremist groups, and the Israeli forces in the blessed city of Jerusalem,” United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan told the meeting, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

He chaired the gathering of the 22-member bloc, and said the Palestinian issue is key to peace and security in the region.

“We gather today to take a decision about what we can do to stop these crimes and violations,” the UAE minister said.

Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi urged the UN Security Council and others to work towards an end to the conflict, SPA reported.

The meeting came on the eve of the Fourth Summit of Arab and South American countries, to be held in the Saudi capital.

source: AFP