BEIRUT -- Arab interior ministers met in Beirut Tuesday to discuss cooperation against terrorism for the first time since the September 11 attacks on the United States, with the opening session taking a swipe at Israeli "terrorism," AFP said.

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz opened the three-day conference of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers by condemning the "state terrorism exercised by Israel" against the Palestinians.

"If Israel's practices against the defenseless Palestinian people are not terrorism, then what is terrorism?" Asked the Saudi Minister, honorary president of the Council.

He also called for "making a distinction between terrorism and the legitimate struggle for the defense of dignity and land," referring to Israel's occupation of Arab territory.

The prince said "The latest events that struck the United States have triggered a hatred in the West toward the Arabs and the Muslims.

"We are in the dock and, at the same time, we are victims of terrorism, when terrorism does not exist in the language of Islam or any other religion."

The Council's Secretary General, Saudi Mohammad Ali Kuman, expressed regret that "There is now a mixing between the Arabs and terrorism ... and many Arab communities in the West are subjected to unacceptable measures."

Lebanese Interior Minister Michel Murr, speaking in the name of president Emile Lahoud, said "The one who thinks that terrorism has a religion or a nation is mistaken."

Apparently referring to the United States, he also said "The one who thinks that pursuing a double-standard policy and putting the logic of force before justice is mistaken.

"How can peace be achieved in the region when Israel carries the ugliest kind of terrorism ... and when the Israeli military arsenal kills the Arab citizen, destroys the homes of civilians and occupies Arab lands," he asked.

"How can peace be achieved when resisting the (Israeli) occupation with bare chests is equated with terrorism and when the Israeli organized occupation is considered as self-defense?"

Palestinian Deputy Interior Minister Ahmad Saeed al-Tamimi was representing the Palestinian Authority(PA) at the conference after Israel blocked his boss, Freih Abu Middein, from attending the event.

The conference is expected to discuss ways to combat terrorism and drugs and the deteriorating situation in the Palestinian territories.