- United Nations (AP) -- The UN Security Council called
an emergency meeting Monday at the request of Arab nations to consider
a resolution demanding an immediate halt to a major Israeli offensive in
the northern Gaza Strip.
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- Algeria's UN ambassador, Abdallah Baali, the only Arab
member of the council, requested the open meeting over a nearly week-long
Israeli operation that has killed at least 65 Palestinians.
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- "Taking into account the gravity, the urgency of
the situation, the seriousness of the situation, we need to have the Security
Council take a decision quickly ñ and quickly means tomorrow (Tuesday)
at the latest," Mr. Baali said.
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- The draft resolution, endorsed Monday morning by Arab
nations, expresses "grave concern at the continued deterioration of
the situation on the ground" in Palestinian territories and calls
on Israel and the Palestinians to immediately implement the so-called road
map to peace, the internationally-backed plan to end violence in the region.
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- The Arab draft condemns "the broad military incursion
and attacks by the Israeli occupying forces in the area of Northern Gaza
Strip, including in and around the Jabiliya refugee camp, resulting in
extensive human casualties and destruction and exacerbating the dire humanitarian
situation."
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- It "demands the immediate cessation of all military
operations in the area of northern Gaza and the withdrawal of the Israeli
occupying forces from that area." It also reiterates the council's
call for a halt to all violence and adherence to international humanitarian
law.
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