France's Hollande 'Seriously Concerned' over Gaza
French President Francois Hollande said Friday he was seriously concerned by the escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip and had spoken to Israeli and Egyptian leaders a day earlier.
"I am seriously concerned by what is happening in the Gaza Strip, both by the rocket attacks on Israel and the reprisals that this escalation may bring," Hollande told reporters at a joint press conference with Poland's President Bronislaw Komorowski, who called for a resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
"What is urgent is not to condemn, but to halt this," Hollande said.
"France has a responsibility to use our influence to tell all those who can convince others who are tempted to opt for provocation, or reprisals, to stop this process and avoid an escalation."
"We will therefore use all our influence in order to help avoid the worst," he added.
Hollande said that he had spoken by telephone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"I told him that we were keenly aware of Israel's need for security, but that it was also a question of not giving in to provocation which could degenerate further," he said.
"I also spoke to Egyptian President (Mohamed) Morsi to ask that he use his influence to help avoid further acts."
Source: Agence France Presse
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