Support for holding an Islamic summit is almost unanimous, but US and Saudi efforts may yet calm the Middle East crisis, Qatar's foreign minister Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani said on Saturday.
The plan to hold a summit of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) exists and enjoys the almost unanimous approval of members, the minister told reporters after meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Everyone agrees that the situation is critical and dangerous and demands that the Arabs and Islamic (nations) take a stance, Sheikh Hamad said.
But he voiced hope that next week's visit to the United States of Saudi crown prince Abdullah, who has promoted a Middle East peace plan, can break the cycle of violence.
If calm is restored, There will be no need for an Islamic summit, the minister said.
The Americans are playing an active role in the region and we hope they will get a full Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian zones and a halt to the assaults on unarmed Palestinians.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, stranded in his Ramallah headquarters, last week urged Qatar, current chairman of the 57-member OIC, to convene a summit.
Israeli tanks launched a major West Bank offensive on March 29 in response to a series of Palestinian suicide bombings.
Bureau Report
