topics
tools
Expatica countries
Index Last Var.(%)
BEL 20 2270.63 -0.42
DAX 6788.8 0.59
IBEX 30 8902.1 0.60
CAC 40 3424.71 0.43
FTSE 100 5895.47 0.33
AEX 325.12 -0.06
DJIA 12890.46 0.05
Nasdaq 2927.23 0.39
FTSE MIB 16653.83 -0.09
TSX Composite 12497.94 -0.18
ASX 4322.6 -0.79
Hang seng 20762.24 -1.18
Straits Times 2962.44 -0.63
ISEQ 20 503.71 0.33
You are here: Home News French News France hails Israeli response to ceasefire plan

French News

archive
Enlarge font Decrease font Text size


08/01/2009France hails Israeli response to ceasefire plan

Israel welcomes a Franco-Egyptian plan but stops short of formally accepting it.

PARIS – France's President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday hailed what he described as Israel and the Palestinian Authority's "acceptance of a Franco-Egyptian plan" for a ceasefire in Gaza.

For its part, Israel welcomed a French-backed scheme to beef up border controls on Gaza's southern border with Egypt, but stopped short of formally accepting calls for a halt to its campaign against Hamas militants.

"We can't see the operation stopping in the coming days. We still have to study the details of the Egyptian proposal," a senior Israeli defence official told AFP, adding the military was preparing a further offensive.

In an apparent attempt to nudge Israel along, Sarkozy's office said the French "president warmly welcomes Israel and the Palestinian Authority's acceptance of the Franco-Egyptian plan presented yesterday evening."

The statement was referring to an idea floated Tuesday in Egypt by Sarkozy and his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak, for a renewed ceasefire backed up by measures to halt arms smuggling to Hamas fighters in Gaza.

"The head of state called for this plan to be put in place as quickly as possible in order to halt the suffering of the population," Sarkozy added, in a statement released by his office after his return from Egypt.

Earlier, an Israeli government spokesman had welcomed in principle the Franco-Egyptian initiative, but did not say whether his government formally accepted it nor whether it was ready to enter negotiations with Egypt.

"Israel thanks the Egyptian president and the French president for their efforts to advance the solution to end the terrorist activity from Gaza and stop weapons smuggling from Egypt into Gaza," Mark Regev said.

"Israel sees positively the dialogue between Egyptians and Israelis in order to advance these issues," he said.

At the same time, Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defence Minister Ehud Barak and other senior ministers met to discuss the possible expansion of their ground offensive deeper into Palestinian towns.

"Barak has instructed the army to prepare for the third stage of the operation," the senior defence official said.

Israel has also promised to halt air strikes for three hours per day to allow humanitarian aid to be distributed and the wounded to be evacuated.

Briefing lawmakers, France's minister for human rights, Rama Yade, said her government would work with the United Nations Security Council to try to win worldwide support for the Franco-Egyptian plan.

"The positive response of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to this plan is a matter of great satisfaction to us because this initiative is the only realistic one and ought to see crossing points reopen quickly," she said.

French foreign ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier said the European Union and France were ready to help reinforce Egypt's border with southern Gaza by sending monitors to oversee the Rafah crossing point.

This would be done by reviving a suspended EU monitoring mission currently under French command, and could eventually be extended to other crossings into Gaza to allow a lifting of Israel's blockade of the territory, he said.

Israel insists on guarantees that Hamas and other militants will not be able to rearm. Israel says the rockets that Palestinian militants fire at the Jewish state are smuggled in through hundreds of tunnels along the Egyptian border.

[AFP / Expatica]


0 reactions to this article

Be the first person to add a comment

General rating: Not rated yet

Rate article:    Add my rating


0 reactions to this article

Be the first person to add a comment
Discussion Forums

Jobs in France

IFAs / FSIs / Country Managers / Confidential Introducers

Immigration and Legal Problems

Blocked Sewer Line outside property boundary - who pays ?

Sporting Events in France

Counter Strike!

Community Noticeboard France | Expat Events

migration to belgium!

Americans in France

Expatriate Events in Paris

participate in the forums

Inside Expatica
Management culture in France

Management culture in France

This handy guide from Expertise in Labour Mobility includes information on business hierarchy, negotiations, and etiquette.

American associations and clubs in Paris

American associations and clubs in Paris

A listing of organizations in the Paris area that cater primarily to Americans living in France. Updated April 2011.

British associations and clubs in Paris

British associations and clubs in Paris

Our handy guide to the British community in Paris, from cricket clubs to Scottish country dancing lessons to where to find a jar of Marmite.

Anglophone services in France

Anglophone services in France

Here's a short introduction to our Banking section for those living in France, from how to open a bank account to Islamic banking and investments.