Western diplomats seek Gaza truce, Israel rebuffs Europe proposals
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Israel on Monday rebuffed European proposals for international observers in the Gaza Strip after any ceasefire, pushing instead for teams that will help search out and seal off tunnels that could allow Hamas to rearm. (UPDATED)
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, a leading candidate to become
"I don't see how this can help," Livni told reporters during a press conference with visiting European leaders.
The foreign minister of the Czech Republic, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, repeated the bloc's call for an immediate halt to Israel’s deadly offensive on Hamas in Gaza.
"We presented the Israeli foreign minister with the view of the European Union that a ceasefire should be established as soon as possible as... that rockets have to stop," Karel Schwarzenberg told reporters in the joint media conference.
"We are not sharing the view that a ceasefire is only possible if all... aims of the Israeli actions are achieved," he said. "We do think that the ceasefire should be as early as possible."
SARKOZY MEETS MUBARAK
French President Nicolas Sarkozy held talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Monday at the start of a regional tour aimed at brokering an end to
The talks focused on "Egyptian efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire in
Sarkozy was to head to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank later on Monday where he is due to meet Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas before having a working dinner with Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's
The European Union and
SHARM TALKS
The EU mission seeking to broker an end to
"Talks with Mubarak were about the situation in
The Sharm talks came as Hamas said it was sending a delegation to
The EU mission headed by Schwarzenberg, as well as his French and Swedish counterparts met with Mubarak in the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Abul Gheit said the talks also touched on getting the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution for achieving a ceasefire. Discussions at the world body on Saturday failed to reach agreement on a text calling for an end to hostilities.
"Our mission is essentially aimed at lessening the Palestinian suffering and supplying humanitarian aid to the
After Egypt, the European foreign ministers are to head to Jerusalem, Ramallah in the occupied West Bank and Amman, along with EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.