Saudi condemns Israel attack, calls for peace talks

RIYADH, Nov 9 (Reuters) Saudi Arabia today condemned Israel's military operations in Gaza and urged the international community to revive peace talks and protect Palestinians.

''The kingdom is extremely concerned about the continued attacks by the Israeli authorities against Palestinian people,'' a statement issued on state news agency SPA said.

''The international community should act quickly to revive the peace process according to the Arab peace proposal and international law,'' it said, citing an official source.

''There is a pressing need for an international conference attended by all parties to put an end to these atrocities.'' Israeli tank shells yesterday killed 18 civilians in the Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, in one of Israel's deadliest strikes in the territory in months.

Israel withdrew from the northern town on Tuesday following a week-long operation --which it says was designed to stop militants firing rockets at the Jewish state -- that also killed 52 militants and civilians.

Palestinians have been fighting to declare an independent state in territories seized by Israel in the 1967 W Asia war.

A peace initiative adopted by the Arab League in 2002 calls for an end to the historic Arab-Israeli conflict through land-for-peace deals with Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinians.

REUTERS SSC ND1544