Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed AbulGheit Monday urged Israel to stop military operations in the Palestinian territories to fulfill its promise to help facilitatethe Palestinian presidential election, the official MENA news agency reported.

Abul Gheit was quoted as saying that Egypt seeks to restore confidence and calmness, so that the Palestinians in the entire Gaza Strip could take part in a fair and free election on Jan. 9.

He said it can be achieved only by a complete Israeli withdrawal from the areas Israeli forces have occupied since Sept. 28, 2000.

The top Egyptian diplomat said Egypt also calls on the international community to step in to urge the Israeli government and forces to stop military operations in the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinians are set to cast their ballots in less than one week to choose a formal successor to late leader Yasser Arafat who died on Nov. 11, but violence still persisted in the territories between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants.

Egypt, a major political power in the Arab world, has repeatedly asked Israel to stop its military operations to help create an "appropriate atmosphere" in the run-up to the Palestinian election.

Israel launched military operation in southern and northern Gaza Strip this week in an attempt to stop militants from firing homemade rockets at Jewish settlements. Enditem