Arab leaders take a group photo before the start of the Arab Economic, Social and Development Summit in Kuwait City, Kuwait, Jan. 19, 2009. Arab heads of state gathered here on Monday for the first Arab economic summit, which is set to tackle the Gaza situation in addition to the impact of global financial crisis, infrastructure and social issues in the Arab world. (Xinhua/KUNA)  Photo Gallery>>>

    KUWAIT CITY, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa underlined the importance of Arab unity in face of the Gaza crisis and other serious challenges when addressing the inauguration of the first Arab economic summit here on Monday.

    He said the solution to the crisis in Gaza depended on a unified Arab stance, which required swift restoration of inter-Arab relations as "the Arab ship is on the brink of sinking because of the many holes it now has."

    Moussa said the Israeli offensive on the besieged Gaza Strip was "a test of Arab stance" and that continued divisions on the Arab front would only serve to worsen the situation. He called for" frank discussions" in a less tense environment.

    Arab states have been at odds over how to address the Gaza crisis, even over whether, when and where to hold an emergency summit on Gaza.

    Arabs were angry at what Israel did in Gaza, thus all measures taken were "welcomed and understood," he said, hailing the closure of the Israeli commercial office in Doha and the Mauritanian embassy in Israel.

    On Friday, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jasim bin Jabir al-Thani said his country and Mauritania have decided to freeze relations with Israel in retaliation for its aggression on Gaza, which sparked world-wide condemnation especially from the Arab world.

    Meanwhile, Moussa said Arabs faced many challenges, with a third of its population illiterate, a third living under the poverty line, half the youth unemployed, and 70 percent of its surface area under threat of desertification.

    "Unemployment, poverty, and education are no less important than political issues because they affect our present and future," he said.

    The Gaza crisis topped the agenda of the two-day Arab economic summit which was initially dedicated to discussing the impact of global financial crisis and inter-Arab developmental issue.