UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Arab nations demanded in a draft UN Security Council resolution yesterday that Israel immediately halt its incursion into the northern Gaza Strip, where fighting has left at least 65 Palestinians dead.

The draft resolution, submitted to the council in an emergency meeting convened at the request of Arab nations yesterday, calls for an immediate halt to a major Israeli offensive in the northern Gaza Strip, and calls on Israel and the Palestinians to immediately implement the internationally-backed road map peace plan
Algeria's UN Ambassador Abdallah Baali, the only Arab member of the council, requested the open meeting following the nearly weeklong Israeli offensive - the largest of its kind launched by Israel in four years in Gaza.

"Taking into account the gravity, the urgency of the situation, the seriousness of the situation, we need to have the Security Council take a decision quickly - and quickly means tomorrow (Tuesday) at the latest," Baali said.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has poured 2,000 troops into the coastal area, vowing they will remain there until Palestinians halt rocket attacks from the area which target southern Israel. Palestinians say the fighting concentrated in Jebaliya refugee camp has destroyed homes, torn up roads and left a kindergarten in rubble.

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