Kouchner urges intervention
Photo: AP
France says Europe must push for Mideast truce
French foreign minister calls for end to Israel - Hamas fighting in Gaza, says European counterparts 'determined to apply all their weight on this issue'
France's foreign minister is rallying European nations to use "all their weight" to stop fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza strip that has killed hundreds, he said in an interview published Sunday.
Bernard Kouchner urged an immediate halt to Palestinian rocket fire on Israeli targets and Israeli air strikes pounding Gaza security compounds.
"We have entered a new spiral of despair," he is quoted in the Journal du Dimanche as saying. "The truce must be restored."
After a June cease-fire unraveled, Israeli warplanes on Saturday launched one of Israel's deadliest assaults ever on Palestinian militants in retaliation for rocket fire from Hamas-led Gaza.
Kouchner spoke to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit on Saturday. "The Egyptians are capable of restarting the peace process, we must help them," Kouchner is quoted as saying.
Kouchner also spoke to his European counterparts. "They are determined to apply all their weight on this issue," he said.
Kouchner noted that the attacks come "in a context of vacancy of power in Israel and the US" as both countries are undergoing leadership transitions.
"Europe has a role to play," Kouchner is quoted as saying.
France appears to be trying to use its waning days as president of the 27-nation European Union to weigh more heavily on Israel and the Palestinians. After six months in charge, France passes the EU presidency to the Czech Republic on Thursday.
