Pakistan on Monday condemned the killing of dozens of Palestinians in east Jerusalem and called for immediate UN intervention to end the bloodshed, which threatens to wreck the Middle East peace process.
"We share the deep anger and concern felt throughout the Islamic world over grave Israeli provocation and bloodshed of innocent Palestinians," a foreign office spokesman said.
"Continuation of violence threatens to wreck the peace process," he said and urged the international community, in particular the United Nations, "to take appropriate steps to put an immediate end to the current spate of violence against the Palestinians."
Pakistan urges the world community to "secure Israel's compliance with the UN resolutions, ensure the safety and sanctity of Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) and facilitate the realization of the national rights of the Palestinian people."
He reiterated Pakistan's "unequivocal support to the just struggle of the people of Palestine for the establishment of an independent state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital."
The five-day old Israeli-Palestinian clashes, the bloodiest since 1996, have left more than 40 people dead and another 1,000 injured.
The violence was triggered by a visit on Thursday by Israeli right-wing leader Ariel Sharon to a religious site in Jerusalem held sacred by both Jews and Muslims.
Most of the dead are Palestinians, except for four Israeli Arabs, an Israeli civilian and an Israeli border guard -- ISLAMABAD (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
