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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Strong words heard at Arab summit | Strong words heard at Arab summit |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Arab states should back Palestinian resistance and brand Israel a terrorist state, Syria's leader has urged an Arab economic summit being held in Kuwait. | Arab states should back Palestinian resistance and brand Israel a terrorist state, Syria's leader has urged an Arab economic summit being held in Kuwait. |
| "Ceasefire does not mean the end of aggression as the invading forces are still in Gaza," Bashar al-Assad said. | "Ceasefire does not mean the end of aggression as the invading forces are still in Gaza," Bashar al-Assad said. |
| The summit is expected to continue being dominated by the crisis in Gaza. | The summit is expected to continue being dominated by the crisis in Gaza. |
| Officials say a reconstruction fund of $2bn will be discussed, but Arab leaders are divided on a political response to Israel's 22-day campaign. | Officials say a reconstruction fund of $2bn will be discussed, but Arab leaders are divided on a political response to Israel's 22-day campaign. |
| The two-day gathering was meant to be the first Arab summit aimed at boosting economic growth and integration. | The two-day gathering was meant to be the first Arab summit aimed at boosting economic growth and integration. |
| Subjects for discussion included a pan-Arab common market and customs union, and ambitious joint infrastructure projects. | Subjects for discussion included a pan-Arab common market and customs union, and ambitious joint infrastructure projects. |
| Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah opened the summit with a call for collective Arab measures setting out "practical steps to stabilise the ceasefire" in the Gaza Strip. | Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah opened the summit with a call for collective Arab measures setting out "practical steps to stabilise the ceasefire" in the Gaza Strip. |
| He called for unity between Palestinian militant group Hamas which controls Gaza and the Fatah faction which runs the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank. | |
| PA President Mahmoud Abbas said factions in the West Bank and Gaza should hold talks immediately to try to overcome their differences. | |
| "What is required today... is to form a national unity government which will then conduct presidential and legislative elections simultaneously," he said. | |
| Donation | Donation |
| There are sharp differences between pro-Western Arab regimes, like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, who blamed Hamas militants for provoking Israel, and regimes which support Palestinian militancy, led by Syria. | There are sharp differences between pro-Western Arab regimes, like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, who blamed Hamas militants for provoking Israel, and regimes which support Palestinian militancy, led by Syria. |
| King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who with Egypt boycotted an emergency Arab summit in Doha last week, used the Kuwait gathering to announce a one-billion-dollar donation to help reconstruction after the Israeli bombardment. | King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who with Egypt boycotted an emergency Arab summit in Doha last week, used the Kuwait gathering to announce a one-billion-dollar donation to help reconstruction after the Israeli bombardment. |
| Amid the political disagreements, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said it was time for the body he chairs to demonstrate it had a role. | Amid the political disagreements, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said it was time for the body he chairs to demonstrate it had a role. |
| "The Arab ship is really sinking and Kuwait's summit... might save it," Mr Moussa said. | "The Arab ship is really sinking and Kuwait's summit... might save it," Mr Moussa said. |
| Israel launched its attack on Gaza on 27 December after a six-month ceasefire with the Hamas movement lapsed. | Israel launched its attack on Gaza on 27 December after a six-month ceasefire with the Hamas movement lapsed. |
| More than 1,250 Palestinians, about half of them civilians, were killed, as well as 10 Israeli soldiers and three civilians. | More than 1,250 Palestinians, about half of them civilians, were killed, as well as 10 Israeli soldiers and three civilians. |
| Israel and Hamas have each declared a ceasefire, but it remains very shaky, analysts say. | Israel and Hamas have each declared a ceasefire, but it remains very shaky, analysts say. |