TV grab taken on Jan. 19, 2009, in Kuwait City, Kuwait, shows the opening ceremony of the Arab Economic, Social and Development Summit held in Kuwait. Arab heads of state gathered here on Monday for the first Arab economic summit, which is set to tackle the Gaza situation in addition to the impact of global financial crisis, infrastructure and social issues in the Arab world. 　　

 　　Reporters watch the live broadcast of the opening ceremony of the Arab Economic, Social and Development Summit at the media center of the summit in Kuwait City, Kuwait, Jan. 19, 2009. Arab heads of state gathered here on Monday for the first Arab economic summit, which is set to tackle the Gaza situation in addition to the impact of global financial crisis, infrastructure and social issues in the Arab world. 　　

 　　TV grab taken on Jan. 19, 2009, in Kuwait City, Kuwait, shows Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani attends the opening ceremony of the Arab Economic, Social and Development Summit held in Kuwait. Arab heads of state gathered here on Monday for the first Arab economic summit, which is set to tackle the Gaza situation in addition to the impact of global financial crisis, infrastructure and social issues in the Arab world.
　　KUWAIT CITY, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Heads of state of the Arab League (AL), together with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, met here on Monday for the first Arab economic summit to tackle the Gaza crisis in addition to the impact of global financial crisis and inter-Arab developmental issues.
　　Addressing the opening session of the summit broadcast live, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah condemned the Israeli "invasion" of Gaza as crimes against humanity and war crimes, saying "our weaponless families in Gaza are facing an atrocious Israeli aggression targeting innocents and demolishing all pillars of life."
　　In an attempt to help the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) continue its services, the emir said Kuwait would donate 34 million U.S. dollars to enable the UN aid group to supply the urgent needs of the Palestinian people.
　　During its three-week offensive on Gaza which has killed over 1,400 Palestinians and wounded 5,500 others, the Israel army has bombarded UN facilities in the besieged Gaza, derailing the work of UN staff in the enclave sandwiched between Egypt and Israel.
　　Sheikh Sabah applauded the resistance of the Palestinian people to defend their humanitarian dignity, withholding their natural right to establish an independent state.
　　He vowed that the Arab world will support "the Palestinian brothers" and "resist the Israeli aggression," calling on Arab leaders to agree on practical steps to maintain the ceasefire which was announced by Israel and Hamas.
　　Sheikh Sabah called for an immediate and unconditional implementation of UN resolution 1860 to pave way for a full and unconditional Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories and lift the siege on Gaza.
　　The economic summit, the first of its kind since the establishment of the pan-Arab bloc, has the slogan of "In Solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza" added to the high-level meeting due to the Israeli onslaught against the Palestinian people in the besieged Gaza Strip.
　　Sheikh Sabah appreciated Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's call for an international summit in Sharm el-Sheikh which reiterated the ceasefire, and called for opening of the crossings, completion of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza to provide humanitarian aid and a donors' conference.
　　On Saturday night, Israel announced a unilateral ceasefire in line with an Egyptian initiative. Hamas and other Gaza militant groups on Sunday announced that they would stage a one-week ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip.
　　Meanwhile, the emir also announced an Arab initiative worth 2 billion dollars to finance small and medium-sized enterprises and private sector projects, adding that Kuwait will contribute 500 million dollars to the Arab initiative.
　　He said the summit will focus on the economic, social and development issues to improve living standards of the Arab peoples, and discuss how to curb the negative impact of the global financial crisis on Arab economies.
　　The Arab nations will promote the common action on addressing Arab economic and social development, and provide a favorable environment for such development, the emir said.
　　The summit, called by the Kuwait emir and Egyptian Pr
　　President-elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle arrive for the 'We Are One' Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington January 18, 2009.