Dhaka, Feb. 9 -- Several Arab and Islamic countries on Monday strongly condemned Israel's recent steps aimed at tightening its control over the occupied West Bank and expanding Jewish settlements.

In a brief statement, Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh called on the Arab League Council, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations Security Council to convene emergency meetings to address what he termed the Israeli government's "dangerous decisions."

He urged the international community to adopt a unified position to denounce the measures and press for their immediate reversal.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of eight Arab and Muslim countries sharply criticised what they described as "illegal" Israeli acti...