Barak to Blair: We won't allow humanitarian crisis in Gaza
Defense minister tells Quartet envoy Israel allowed 400 trucks carrying food, medicines into Strip this past week, adds 'it is our duty to give our citizens what every citizen of the world deserves – peace, quiet and security'
Defense Minister Ehud Barak met with Quartet's Middle East envoy Tony Blair Sunday evening and assured him Israel will not allow a humanitarian crisis to brew in Gaza.
According to Barak, some 400 truck carrying food and medical supplies have entered Gaza this past week.
Sources in Barak's office said that the defense minister told Blair that "Israel is a peace seeking nation. We have refrained from acting for years and now it is our duty to give our citizens what every citizen of the world deserves – peace, quiet and security."
The defense minster told visiting New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg that "the people of New York are familiar with terror. Israel's citizens have suffered from terror and attacks for eight straight years in which we have shown restraint, but now it is time to act.
"We are not gung ho, but we will not allow Hamas' attacks on our citizens to continue," Barak added. "We are determined to bring peace to the south."
