LOC09:01
06:01 GMT
PARIS, March 27 (KUNA) -- France expressed deep concern late Friday after
clashes erupted between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants on the Gaza
border, leaving six dead, including two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinian
militants.
A statement from the French Foreign Ministry said that France condemned the
attack that led to the clashes and lamented the ongoing loss of life in the
protracted conflict.
"France firmly condemns the attack which cost the life today of two Israeli
soldiers at the frontier of the Gaza Strip," the statement said, omitting to
mention any loss of life on the Palestinian side in the clash.
However, the Foreign Ministry did express regret for the continuous deaths
related to the Israeli-Palestinian situation. "Too many Israeli and
Palestinian lives have already been lost, even this week with the death,
notably, of four young Palestinians in the West Bank."
The youths were shot by Israeli soldiers during demonstrations against
ongoing Israeli settlement-building and encroachment on Arab areas in East
Jerusalem.
"France expresses its very deep concern and calls on the parties to show
the greatest restraint," the Foreign Ministry affirmed.
"To give in to the temptation of escalation can only bring about a new
cycle of violence and play the game of the extremists," it added. (end)
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