The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) strongly condemned Monday the "slaughter" of Palestinians in the wake of a "provocative" visit by Israeli right-wing leader Ariel Sharon to a disputed holy site in Jerusalem.
The GCC said in a statement that it "strongly denounces this visit ... and the slaughter committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the faithful in Al-Aqsa mosque".
The six Gulf Arab states urged the international community, particularly Washington and Moscow as co-sponsors of the Middle East peace process, to "intervene to end Israeli slaughter against the Palestinian people."
The council added that international intervention obliged "Israel to apply all relevant UN resolutions and to save the peace process from collapse."
More than 40 people have been killed in bloody clashes pitting Palestinians and Israeli Arabs against Israeli forces since Friday.
The GCC groups Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Oman and Qatar are the only Gulf Arab states where Israel has any official representation. Diplomatic relations have not been established but Israel has trade offices in Doha and Muscat -- RIYADH(AFP)
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