THE Arab League ambassadors accredited to Uganda have said Israel should be isolated by all peace-loving nations.

They accused Israel of abusing human rights.

The envoys yesterday implored Uganda's Parliament to rally behind the Palestinians and protest against the continued occupation of parts of Palestine by the Israeli forces.

Five ambassadors led by A. Bujeldain of Libya met the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Ssekandi, with members of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs chaired by Nsaba Buturo (Bufumbira East).

The other envoys were Maasoum Marzouk of Egypt, Belaid Hadjem of Algeria, Saud Saad of Saudi Arabia and Sirujuddin Hamid Yousuf of Sudan.

They said the suicide bombing by the Palestinians is out of despair and helplessness.

The envoys said the Ugandan MPs should stand with the people searching for respect of human rights.

Ssekandi said the Parliament of Uganda was concerned about the suffering of the innocent people in the Middle East.

"We want peace. Innocent people have been abused. An independent body should be set up and whoever is found responsible should be punished."

Buturo said, "the way Israel is conducting herself is not proper. The US should also be fair on the way they are handling the issue."

Marzouk said, "We are not here as Arabs but as human beings. We protest human rights abuse, these people must be isolated."

"They are demonising the Palestinians. Four UN Security Council resolutions have been made in one month but they have defied them with impunity.

It is the first time in history that freedom fighters have been labelled terrorists," he said.

Bujeldain condemned the confinement of the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, saying there should be respect of elected leaders. He said innocent children and women were being abused by the Israeli forces.

Hadjem said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was to blame for the escalating conflict in the Middle East. "There is total lack of respect of human rights by that government," he said.

Sirajuddin said the conflict was threatening international security.