JEDDAH, 3 March 2004 — The imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah yesterday called for emergency action by the international community to stop Israel’s aggression on the Palestinian people.

Delivering his Friday sermon to the thousands of Muslim faithful who thronged the large mosque complex, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais urged Arab leaders to stand firm by the “oppressed” Palestinian people.

“The people of Arab and Islamic countries are looking to your summit to adopt a decisive position in support of the oppressed in Iraq and Palestine and put an end to the Zionist excesses and its dangers on the region and the world,” he told Arab leaders.

Sheikh Sudais denounced Israel’s attacks on Islam’s holy sites and Palestinian leaders including Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. He described Yassin’s assassination as one of Israel’s worst crimes and a terrorist act.

“The international community must rein in the continuing Zionist atrocities against the Palestinian people,” he said, adding that such atrocities would only lead to more violence and chaos in the region.

Sheikh Sudais advised the Palestinians to stand united against Israel, setting aside all their conflicts.

“The Islamic nation will do everything it can for your cause,” he said.

The imam decried the plight of Muslims around the world today and urged them to admit their mistakes, strengthen their faith in God and return to the teachings of Islam.

He also slammed some Arab television channels for spreading immorality in society and said some of their programs were tantamount to “a war on Arab and Islamic values.” He urged them to stop airing such programs.