Syria cuts ties with Israel

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-17-2009 09:34

Also taking part in the emergency meeting, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said an Arab initiative for peace with Israel is now over.

He called on fellow Arab nations to sever all ties with the Jewish state. Bashar said Israel has always ignored Arab nations' peace efforts.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (L) and Sudan President Omar Hassan al-Bashir attend an Arab meeting on the Gaza crisis, in Qatar January 16,2009. REUTERS/Osama Faisal

Bashar al-Assad, Syrian President, said, "From our own perspective as Arab nations, we have a responsibility to take certain steps, including cutting off relations with Israel, cutting all direct and indirect ties. As with regards to the Arab peace talks, we consider them dead."

On the same day, Qatar and Mauritania froze ties with Israel, over the three-week-old Israeli offensive in Gaza. Qatar says it would ask Israel to close its trade office in Doha and remove its staff until the situation improved.

Mauritania has recalled its ambassador to Israel, but says it would not deport the Israeli ambassador to the country.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei