The Arab League and Syria have slammed Israel's new orders that could lead to the expulsion of many Palestinians from the West Bank, describing them as 'ethnic cleansing.' Under the new rules, anyone caught living in the West Bank without an Israeli permit could face expulsion within as little as three days or be sentenced to up to seven years in prison.
Human rights groups have warned Israel's new rules, effective as of Tuesday, could expel tens of thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank. Syria's official news agency on Monday quoted President Bashar Assad as telling visiting Arab League chief Amr Moussa that Arabs and the international community should urgently take a stand on Israel's move. Moussa said the Arab League will hold an emergency meeting in Cairo Tuesday.