CAIRO, April 9 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – Ignoring the simple fact that Israel is the party violating UN resolutions and defying international legitimacy by occupying the Palestinian land, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell urged all Arab and Palestinian leaders Monday to call a halt to (martyr operations) suicide bombings in the interests of a real peace with Israel.

"I would ask all leaders of Arab nations, all Palestinian leaders to say to their people, to say to people throughout the world, this is the time to stop this kind of activity," he said, in response to a question about martyr operations by the Palestinian resistance, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Speaking at a press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher, he added the time was right "because there is a process waiting for us that will get us what we want," namely a just Palestinian-Israeli peace.

In indirect comments on Powell’s statements, Gihad Al-Khazen, an Arab columnist with London-based Al-Hayat Arabic newspaper made a comparison between Israel’s and the Palestinians’ weapons. Israel has (3900 tanks- 275 Choppers- 455 destroyers- 9600 pieces of artillery- No human bombs). Meanwhile, the Palestinians have (No tanks- No Choppers- No destroyers- No artillery- Unlimited number of human bombs).

“So, how can the U.S. President deprive the Palestinians of their only weapon?,” Al-Khazen wondered.

Al-Khazen then asked Bush to give the Palestinians an annual military aid equal to that given to Israel; two billion dollars worth of weapons.

Meanwhile, offering the only way out of the current bloodshed, top Palestinian official Faruq Qaddumi called for a quick end to the Israeli army aggression in the West Bank on Tuesday, warning that his people's "resistance" will continue until the end of occupation.

Qaddumi, who acts as Palestinian Foreign Minister, called for the "a quick solution" to the 12-day Israeli military offensive in the West Bank in comments to reporters after holding talks here with President Emile Lahoud.

The matter was urgent, he said, "because the cycle of violence and the massacres committed by the Israeli army have destroyed confidence between the Palestinians and the Israelis, as well as the Oslo" peace process which created the autonomous Palestinian Authority and territories, AFP reported.

"The Palestinians do not have any other choice but to pursue the resistance until the end of the Israeli occupation, including east Jerusalem, and the establishment of a Palestinian state," he said.

Qaddumi, who arrived earlier Tuesday from Syria, also called "on Arab states to increase pressures on the United States to impose restraint on the Israeli government."

Qaddumi, officially head of the political department of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said Lahoud promised to "increase contacts with the Vatican and the European Union" asking them to exert pressure on Israel and the United States.