Cairo  - Israel's incursion into the Gaza Strip is cutting the Arab world to the quick, leaving millions left to seethe with anger and helplessness while their leaders do little or nothing.

From Marrakesh to Damascus, demonstrators have given vent to their outrage and sympathy in a series of protests and donation campaigns on behalf of the Palestinians reeling under Israel's offensive.

Many Arabs feel personally humiliated at the way Israeli forces are acting against their militarily hapless fellow Arabs while, apart from protests and humanitarian aid, Arab leaders have done nothing.

The Arabs know that even the few political means at their disposal count for little because those who have the power to use them are not prepared to do so.

Neither Egypt nor Jordan is prepared to break diplomatic relations with Israel. Nor would the rulers in Saudi Arabia and other Arab oil- exporting nations consider turning off the oil tap in order to pressure Europe and the United States.

"It would be appropriate if the Arab regimes were to break off their ties with Israel in view of the continuing aggression against Gaza," Algerian presidential advisor Abdulaziz Belkhadem said on state radio Sunday. Using oil as a means to bring influence could also prove effective, he said.

But Saudi King Abdullah prefers to make donations of millions of the euros and dollars which oil exports earn, rather than threaten a halt to oil exports.

A marathon television donation programme on behalf of the Gaza Strip Palestinians saw more than 119 million rials (32 million dollars) pour in within a couple of hours.

The Egyptian TV preacher Amre Khaled issued an appeal for blood donations for the Palestinians. Meanwhile Arab singers were cancelling their concerts.

But what remains is merely a feeling of helplessness.

Those Arabs who in September 2005 dismissed the Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip as merely a tactical move now feel vindicated.

Even Turkey, which many Arabs look askance at because of its economic and military cooperation with the Jewish state, is now distancing itself from Israel.

Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose membership in an Islamic party has so far not caused him to change course regarding Israel, declared Saturday evening after talks with Saudi King Abdullah in Riyadh that no one can simply stand by and watch how in the Gaza Strip "innocent children and women are being killed." dpa