Jerusalem - The European Union kept up its push for an
immediate truce in Gaza, with its troika of current, previous and
upcoming presidencies meeting Israeli leaders in Jerusalem and
warning Israel's offensive was 'destroying' its image in the world.
'We have come to Israel in order to advance the initiative for a
humanitarian ceasefire and I will tell you, Mr President, that you
have a serious problem with international advocacy, and that Israel's
image is being destroyed,' EU Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner
told Israeli President Shimon Peres, a statement from his office
said.
She said the humanitarian truce was vital because international
humanitarian organizations were having 'serious problems'
distributing food aid parcels in Gaza amid the ongoing fighting.
Israel has rejected the proposal, saying it cannot afford to and will
not let up its pressure on Hamas.
Ferrero-Waldner, who along with Czech Foreign Minister Karl
Schwarzenberg and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt also met with
Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert later in the morning,
said Israel had a right to defend itself against near daily rocket
and mortar attacks from Gaza over the past seven years, but called
its actions in the strip 'disproportionate.'
Peres replied that Israel was 'not in the business of public
relations or improving its image,' but of fighting militants backed
by Iran.
'Europe needs to open its eyes with respect to the fighting in
Gaza. None of the European countries would tolerate rocket fire on
their citizens,' he said.
A spokeswoman for UNWRA, the United Nations agency caring for
Palestinian refugees, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur
USA
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