The Arab League, which recently endorsed indirect talks between the Palestinians and Israel, convened on Wednesday an emergency session at its Cairo headquarters, following Israel's decision to build 1,600 new housing units in east Jerusalem.

The league's Arab peace initiative committee called on Arab foreign ministers to reconsider their support for the talks they extended on March 3.

"In case of the failure to stop the Israeli measures immediately ... the committee concludes that the proposed talks are irrelevant," the committee's statement said.

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa cut short his visit to Qatar in order to attend the meeting. Syrian representative to the Arab League, Ambassador Yosef Ahamad said that Israel's decision justifies Damascus' objection to the renewal of negotiations with the Jewish State.

During a joint press conference with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr al-Thani, Moussa said, "We will study Israel's position and formulate recommendations that will be presented to the ministers and later on to the Arab Summit slated to convene in Libya at the end of the month."