More Quotes
Foreign Secretary William Hague: “The only way to give the Palestinian people the state that they need and deserve, and the Israeli people the security and peace they are entitled to, is through a negotiated two-state solution.”
(Source: FCO Website)
All our intelligence suggests that because of the American Congress restrictions and the likely response from the Israelis the Palestinian Authority will find itself financially very badly affected by decisions made in response to the resolution. We just don’t believe it’s the right time.
Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt: “The fact that there has been a ceasefire is of genuine, tremendous importance to the lives of ordinary people. But, of course, it is only a part of what must be a much more comprehensive settlement. Any long-term agreement has got to see an end to the build-up of weapons by Hamas, the smuggling-in of missiles, so that the problem does not reoccur in the future”
(source: the FCO)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “The terror organizations assumed that we would avoid offensive action against them; they were wrong. We hit their senior commanders, we destroyed thousands of rockets which were aimed towards the South and most of those aimed towards central Israel, and we crushed Hamas’ control facilities…Now, I realize that there are citizens who expect a harsher military action and we may very well need to do that. But at present, the right thing for the State of Israel is to exhaust this possibility of reaching a long-term cease-fire. As Prime Minister, I have the responsibility, and it is the highest responsibility, to make the right steps to ensure our security. That is what I have done and it is what I will continue to do.”
(source: Israel’s PMO)
Foreign Secretary William Hague: “We have made clear both that Hamas bears principal responsibility for the start of the current crisis, but also that all sides have responsibilities. We quickly called on Israel to seek every opportunity to de-escalate its military response, and to observe international humanitarian law and avoid civilian casualties. At the meeting I attended in Brussels yesterday, EU Foreign Ministers condemned the rocket attacks on Israel and called for an urgent de-escalation and cessation of hostilities”
(Source: FCO website)
European Union Foreign Ministers: “The European Union strongly condemns the rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip which Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza must cease immediately. There can be no justification for the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians. Israel has the right to protect its population from these kinds of attacks; in doing so it must act proportionately and ensure the protection of civilians at all times. The EU stresses the need for all sides to fully respect international humanitarian law.”