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Saudi Arabia accused Israel on Monday of "racist extermination" in its attack on Gaza and expressed hope that incoming US president Barack Obama would work to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"The cabinet said the extermination Israel is launching upon the Palestinian people in Gaza has denuded Israeli leaders of humanity and places their policies in the ranks of racist extermination," said a statement carried by the state news agency SPA.
"The cabinet expressed its optimism over the statements of president-elect Barack Obama concerning how affected he was by the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, and his intention to move in an immediate and orderly fashion towards finding a fair resolution of the Palestinian question."
Medical officials said the Palestinian death toll in Israeli offensive, which began on December 27, had risen past 900 and included at least 380 civilians. Israel says 13 Israelis have died - three civilians hit by rockets and 10 soldiers.
Obama said on Sunday the deaths of civilians in the fighting were "heartbreaking", and that his administration would act immediately as a third party that wants to see a fair resolution to the historic conflict.
The Saudi statement said that the cabinet "looks forward to an incoming American administration that is more serious, objective and independent in dealing with the Palestinian issue", SPA said.
Arab governments have long complained that US administrations lean towards Israel in the conflict.
Saudi Arabia has organised an aid campaign for Palestinians that has gathered over 100 million riyals ($27 million), as the government tries to respond to popular anger over the offensive while preventing street protests.
The Saudi government has refrained from explicitly blaming Hamas for the Israeli offensive, but some writers in Saudi media have attacked Hamas for aligning itself with Shi'ite power Iran.
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Post new commentfarhatmirza said on 2009-01-21 @ 09:43 NZDT: Report abusive post
Dear Sir/Madam, If and when the information is declassified, it may come out that the connection between 'shoe-treatment' of G.Bush in Iraq and, the carnage if not the genocide that followed in Ghaza, was not, after all, the figment of ones imagination. Regards, fjm
sheildzee said on 2009-01-20 @ 19:34 NZDT: Report abusive post
Please report accurately. Hamas did not "seize control of Gaza from Abbas's Fatah forces in 2007 ...". You rightly state that Hamas won the general election so Hamas did not "seize" anything. Your point about Fatah is superfluous anyway so just stick to the facts - " Hamas was elected by the Palestinian people in democratic elections held in 2006." That is the truth. The power struggle that followed the democratic election of Hama is another issue entirely.
flyer said on 2009-01-19 @ 16:50 NZDT: Report abusive post
Whew, a ceasefire of sorts - obviously the protest of the southland cafe owner against Israeli women has brought everyone to the negotiating table - AS IF.....
farhatmirza said on 2009-01-19 @ 11:42 NZDT: Report abusive post
Dear Sir/Madam, To say that Israel funded Hamas looks improbable, if not ridiculous. However, I won't be surprised if Hamas took a cue of two from Hagana, Irgun, or Lehi. Regards, fjm
philipmcc said on 2009-01-19 @ 10:01 NZDT: Report abusive post
I feel sad enough about the Gaza protagonists each claiming that they are the 'good guys' and the others are the 'bad guys', and the suffering that creates. But as I read these comments I see the same human tendency being acted out. So many claim that their view is 'right' and the others are 'wrong'. This stance is a major factor in all conflict. While that fear-based tendency persists we will go on having wars like Gaza.