Despite the strong difference of opinion with Washington, a Spanish government spokesman said Europe and the United States agreed to form a joint diplomatic position to work for an immediate ceasefire. He said the agreement was forged in a phone conversation between Bush and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar. Aznar earlier told Israeli counterpart Ariel Sharon that his government should not attempt to destroy Arafat's self-rule government. "I have the impression that the Israeli government will gain nothing by destroying the Palestinian Authority," he said.
French President Jacques Chirac said Israel's offensive "carries immense dangers." "I think it would be a grave error to imagine that the elimination of Yasser Arafat, who is the president of the Palestinian Authority, could lead to anything positive," Chirac said. The French foreign ministry added in a statement: "The siege must be lifted. He (Arafat) is deprived of water, food and electricity. As the president of the Palestinian Authority he must be able to communicate with the outside world in order to fufill his responsibilities," the statement said.
In Brussels, the European Union demanded "the immediate and total application" of United Nations Resolution 1402 adopted by the Security Council calling for Israel to withdraw from Palestinian cities, including Ramallah. "The European Union... calls for its immediate and total application," said Cristina Gallach, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
Switzerland also denounced Israel's "worsening" treatment of Arafat.
Turkey, a key regional ally for both the US and Israel, demanded Washington put more pressure on Sharon's government. "The efficacy of this resolution in practice depends primarily on a serious warning by the United States to the Israeli prime minister," Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said in blunt statement. In his statement, Ecevit warned that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "has become a war threatening the whole Middle East."
In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Russian, US, EU and UN envoys should hold urgent talks with Arafat, "the recognised leader of the Palestinian nation", and Sharon in a bid to ensure the UN resolution be applied.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad demanded the US and EU act in the face of Israel's reoccupation of Ramallah, describing the crisis as "a test for the international community, Europe and the United States to prove they are serious and they will act."
Oman, also a key US Arab ally, demanded Washington do more to stop the violence. "The pursuit of Israeli occupation and the recourse to force (against Palestinians) are the main causes of terrorism and violent reactions," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Iranian President Mohamad Khatami described the storming of Ramallah as "a crime against all of humanity." "The Zionist regime does not respect any international rulings or peace proposals," Khatami was quoted as saying during a conversation with Lebanese leader Emile Lahoud.
Japan also issued a rare statement on the crisis: "We are extremely concerned that the vicious circle of violence is further intensifying," Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said.
China's Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan condemned "Israel's barbarous invasion" of Palestinian territories in a telephone conversation with his Qatari counterpart, state media reported. "China opposes and condemns Israel's barbarous invasion of the Palestinian territory, and calls on Israel to stop military actions immediately and to withdraw from the Palestinian territory," Tang said, according to Xinhua news agency. |