G8 says remains committed to helping Palestinians
Three-day summit of eight rich nations ends with statement reiterating full support of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, hopes sides can see way to reach agreement by year's end
The G-8 remains committed to providing assistance to the Palestinians and helping to strengthen their institutions, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said at the end of a three-day summit of the Group of Eight rich nations.
Fukuda, in a chairman's statement on the meeting, said the G-8 had reiterated its full support for the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations with a view to reaching an agreement by the end of the year and called on all parties to refrain from any action that would undermine the negotiations.
In a statement, G-8 leaders – which include the US, Japan, Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Canada and Russia – called on both the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to put a stop to violence on both sides, also calling on Israel to cease all settlement construction.
G-8 leaders (Photo: Reuters)
The statement further urged Israel and the Palestinians to meet their respective obligations, as detailed in the Road Map, and to work towards reaching a peace agreement by the end of 2008.
G-8 leaders welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and the militant groups in the Gaza Strip, adding they intend on continue in their assistance to the Palestinian Authority, and concluded with an expression of their hope that Israel will soon be able to reach peace agreements with all its Arab neighbors.
Reuters and AFP contributed to this report
