Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Saleh has called for arms and combatants to be sent to help the Palestinians fight Israel.
He asked for "the opening of Arab borders to supply arms to the Palestinian people and to let in mujahedeen (Arab combatants)," in an interview shown on state television on Saturday night.
"How I wish Yemen was among the countries neighboring the Palestinian people to open its borders to the mujahedeen (Arab combatants) and to supply arms to the Palestinians in order to force the Zionist entity to recognize Palestinian rights," Saleh said.
"If Yemen was one of the countries involved in the confrontation with Israel we would not hesitate to support the Palestinian resistance with arms and the means to enable the recovery of Arab rights."
Saleh went on to urge Arab countries which have ties with Israel to break off their relations, to recall their ambassadors and representatives and to expel Israeli diplomats.
"Such a stance will have a greater effect than an Arab summit in the current circumstances."
Saleh played down the importance of the summit called by Egypt on October 21 and 22.
"We will take part in this summit, but we know that it will produce only words. We want practical measures against Israel," he said.
After more than a week of fighting between Israeli troops and Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, more than 90 people -- the majority Palestinians and Israeli-Arabs -- have been killed -- SANAA (AFP)
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