SHARM EL-SHEIKH – European and conservative Arab leaders gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh yesterday to back Egyptian efforts to turn a shaky ceasefire in Gaza into a solid mutual agreement leading to Israeli withdrawal.
The leaders of Britain, the Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Spain and Turkey, along with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, met in the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to co-ordinate policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict after three weeks of fighting in and around Gaza.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa also attended, officials said.
Israel announced a unilateral ceasefire overnight and the Islamist movement Hamas responded on Sunday by declaring a one-week truce for Israeli troops to leave the coastal strip.
But attacks yesterday showed that the truce was fragile, with the two sides in disagreement over what should happen next.
‘There are some violations here or there. The aim now is to consolidate that ceasefire so that a ceasefire with a longer duration can be achieved,’ Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki told the Arabic satellite channel Al Arabiya.
The Palestinian ambassador to Egypt, Nabil Amr, said the most pressing issue now was the withdrawal of Israeli troops and Israel should come under pressure to pull them out at once.
European diplomats said that their heads of government would offer political support for Egyptian efforts to mediate an agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Israel’s decision to abandon attempts to reach a mediated truce with Hamas was a blow to Egyptian diplomacy but President Hosni Mubarak said on Saturday that Egypt would keep trying. – Nampa-Reuters
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
