The Palestinian leadership called on the international community Tuesday to stop Israeli "military escalation" after army helicopters rocketed targets in the West Bank and Gaza Strip overnight.
"We appeal to the United Nations, the international community, the Arab world, the European Union, China, Japan and the sponsors of the peace process to immediately intervene and use all of their authority against these aggressions and this dangerous Israeli military escalation that risks the security and peace in the Middle East," said a statement from the Palestinian leadership, carried by the official news agency Wafa.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat convened his cabinet overnight after Israeli helicopter gunships bombed Palestinian security posts and headquarters of his political faction Fateh and its armed militia in late-night strikes.
The raids came after two Israelis were killed in hate-related attacks in and around Jerusalem Monday and after the army pledged to take the "initiative" in clashes with Palestinians.
The Palestinian statement said the helicopter raids would not deter the Palestinians "in their path of just resistance to freedom and independence and in establishing an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital."
Israel warned on Tuesday it could inflict "even harder blows" against the Palestinians following the overnight strikes – GAZA CITY (AFP)
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