Palestinians hurl stones during clashes with Israeli police in the East Jerusalem
Palestinians hurl stones during clashes with Israeli police in the East JerusalemReuters

Arab foreign ministers searched on Monday for ways to halt what one called Israel's "dangerous escalation" of violence against Palestinians - i.e. to stop Israel to defend itself against terrorists. 

Weeks of knife, gun and car assaults by Palestinians in Israel have killed eleven Israelis, and left dozens wounded. 

Attacks against Jews began in late September, as tensions rose after Palestinian Authority (PA) incitement over the Temple Mount - Judaism's holiest site. 

"This emergency meeting comes with the dangerous escalation by the Israeli government, the settlers, the Jewish extremist groups, and the Israeli forces in the blessed city of Jerusalem," United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan told the meeting, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

He chaired the gathering of the 22-member bloc, and said the Palestinian issue is key to peace and security in the region.

"We gather today to take a decision about what we can do to stop these crimes and violations," the UAE minister said.

Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi urged the UN Security Council and others to work towards an end to the conflict, SPA reported.

The meeting came on the eve of the Fourth Summit of Arab and South American countries, to be held in the Saudi capital.

AFP contributed to this report.