United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahayan called Thursday for a "firm attitude" from Arab and Islamic governments to protect Palestinians from Israeli attack.
He protested strongly against "the savage Israeli aggression carried out by Israeli planes, tanks and warships against unarmed Palestinians civilians," in a statement, carried by the official WAM news agency.
Israeli combat helicopters carried out waves of attacks on Palestinian security and administrative buildings in Ramallah in the West Bank and in Gaza City following the lynching of two Israeli soldiers by angry Palestinians.
"This grave escalation by the Israeli army is a flagrant violation of all international conventions," the Emirati leader said, adding that "the absence of a fair international mediator has given free rein to Israel" to attack Palestinians.
His son, Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed al-Nahayan, the deputy prime minister, said "Israel is still a prisoner of the logic of aggression ... and very far from the option of peace."
He called for "united Arab action."
"No more time should be lost to take an Arab initiative to guarantee Palestinian rights," he said.
Before Thursday's violence, Arab nations had called a summit in Cairo on October 21 and 22 to discuss the clashes which have left more than 100 dead in two weeks – ABU DHABI (AFP)
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