Arab officials reacted with alarm to the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, with some countries condemning Israel’s offensive in Gaza and others pressing Palestinian militants to free a kidnapped Israeli soldier.The head of an alliance of Gulf countries voiced the strongest condemnation of Israel’s actions, calling them “barbaric acts of terrorism.” Abdel Rahman Attiye, secretary general of the Gulf Coordinating Council, lamented the “international silence” on Israel’s offensive. Full Story