RIYADH, 9 May — Interior ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council states meeting here yesterday warned against any misuse of the war on terror to justify aggression, citing Israel’s offensive against the Palestinians as an example.
Deputy Interior Minister Prince Ahmad told the meeting that differences in assessing world events had resulted in unilateral definitions of terrorism. "Terrorism has become a term that every side defines in accordance with its historical and ideological legacy, indicating a dangerous deviation in human ideology, and boding serious consequences" for all, he said.
"The killings, expulsion, starving and destruction carried out by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories under the pretext of fighting terror are evidence of such deviation," said Prince Ahmad, who was standing in for Interior Minister Prince Naif, who is recovering in Geneva from knee surgery.
"This has made terrorism a pretext used by those who have no reason to launch aggression against others," Prince Ahmad said. He called for unifying efforts to define the concept of terrorism and counter its dangers.
The meeting denounced the move to link Islam with terrorism. "Islam prohibits violence and the killing of innocent civilians. It also calls for love and tolerance," a statement issued after the meeting said.
The ministers condemned all forms of terrorism, irrespective of its sources. They also reviewed the latest security developments at regional and international levels. Calling terrorism a global phenomenon, the ministers urged international action to fight it.
They described the Israeli aggression on Palestinians as the largest terror operation carried out publicly, in defiance of the international community.
"Israel’s rejection of UN resolutions and denial of entry to a UN fact-finding mission were a clear proof of its effort to hide its crimes (in Jenin)," the ministers said.
New GCC Secretary-General Abdul Rahman Al-Attiya, attending the first official meeting since taking up his post in March, said the GCC had supported the international campaign against terror.
The meeting stressed the need for strengthening cooperation among the six states to fight various crimes, especially drug trafficking and money laundering.
Meanwhile, the GCC foreign ministers will hold an extraordinary meeting in Riyadh on May 14 to review the latest developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The meeting will examine the latest developments in the Palestinian territories. Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal will brief his GCC counterparts on his talks in the US as well as his contacts with Arab and international parties.
