CAIRO, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The Cairo-based Arab League (AL) Council ended its foreign ministerial meeting here Wednesday, seeking for greater efforts to solve pressing regional problems, especially the Palestinian and Lebanese issues.

    In a resolution adopted by the foreign ministers, the AL council condemned the Israel's recent offensive in the Gaza Strip as "war crimes and crimes against humanity."

Iraqi Foreign Minister Zebari attends the meeting at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo, Egypt, on March 5, 2008. The Cairo-based Arab League (AL) Council ended its foreign ministerial meeting here Wednesday, seeking for greater efforts to solve pressing regional problems, especially the Palestinian and Lebanese issues. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    They held that as Israel was not responding to peace efforts and understandings of the U.S.-sponsored Mideast peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland in November 2007, greater efforts are needed to promote the peace process.

    The resolution called for the resumption of the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, end of all settlement activities in the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, and reaching an extensive peace deal for the establishment of a Palestinian state by the end of this year.

    AL Secretary General Amr Moussa urged at the meeting that the UN Security Council and the international quartet committee should live up to responsibilities to provide the Palestinians with protection according to the International Convention.

    The AL chief also urged for the halt of a double-standard approach in dealing with the Palestinian cause, asserting that Israel's criminal offensive in Gaza indicates its policy against the Palestinian people based on genocide and cleansing.

    That should be strongly confronted, Moussa stressed.

    Armed Palestinian groups on Tuesday continued firing home-made rockets into southern Israel, one day after the Israeli army withdrew ground troops from northern Gaza Strip.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa attends the meeting at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo, Egypt, on March 5, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    On Tuesday night, Israeli army also launched a new raid on east of the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, after the Israel military on Monday withdrew its ground troops from Gaza and completed a five-day incursion in the Palestinian enclave that killed more than 120 Palestinians and wounded hundreds of others.

    In another resolution, the AL council reiterated their commitment to the Arab initiative to solve Lebanon's current political crisis, calling on the Lebanese political leaders to conclude the election of Army chief General Michel Suleiman as the country's president and agree on the shape of a future cabinet as soon as possible.

    The resolution urged the AL chief to continue his endeavors for promoting the Lebanon initiative to break the political deadlock in the deeply divided country.

    On Jan. 6, the Arab world endorsed in Cairo a three-point Arab plan, also known as the Arab initiative, to press for the immediate election of General Suleiman as new Lebanese president, while proceeding to form a government of national unity and drafting a new electoral law.

    Lebanon's ruling majority and the opposition should respond to Moussa's efforts to implement the initiative and reach an agreement in light of the progress made during their meetings in Beirut last month, urged the resolution.

Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem (R) arrives at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo, Egypt, on March 5, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Lebanese presidential seat has been vacant since former President Emile Lahoud stepped down on Nov. 24, 2007 and the sharply divided Lebanese parliament has delayed the elections for15 times without a consensus.

    Damascus has been accused of obstructing the presidential elections in Lebanon through its allies in that country's opposition bloc, which is repeatedly denied by Syria.

    It was reported that the upcoming 20th Arab summit to be held in Damascus on March 29-30 may be postponed since some Arab countries threatened to boycott the meeting if Syria does not facilitate the election of General Suleiman as the Lebanese president.

    Talking about the question, Moussa told a press conference after the council meeting that all Arab countries will be invited to the summit, but some countries might be represented not by leaders but representatives.

    Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem also told reporters here Tuesday night that Syria will send an invitation to Lebanon, noting that a representative can be sent to the Arab summit incase a new Lebanese president has not been elected by then.

    Saudi Arabia will also be invited to attend the summit, Muallem added.