CAIRO, Jan 17 (AFP) - The Arab League on Monday denounced Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's decision to unleash unlimited military operations in the Gaza Strip following a suicide attack as a "dangerous escalation".
"The orders given by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to the Israeli army for unrestricted military operations against the Palestinians is a dangerous escalation of violence against the Palestinian people," the 22-member body said.
"This extremely serious development complicates the situation, especially after Israel decided to freeze contacts with the elected leadership of the Palestinian people," following Thursday's suicide attack, the statement added.
The League called for "rapid international intervention" to protect Palestinians, ahead of a possible revival in peace talks towards a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
01/17/2005 18:08 GMT - AFP