Abbas calls on Israel to accept truce plan

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-11-2009 08:46

Diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza conflict are underway in Cairo. Saturday saw Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas meeting for talks on the latest cease-fire initiative with Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Israel to accept the Egyptian truce plan. He says the proposal, presented by Mubarak earlier this week, is the only way to end the Gaza crisis.

Mahmound Abbas, Palestinian President, said: "We want peace and the Palestinians' resistance is not the target in itself and we do not want resistance to destroy our people. If the resistance is causing bloodshed to the Palestinian people then we don't want it."

Abbas also called for an international presence in Gaza to protect the Palestinian people.

Mahmound Abbas, Palestinian President, said: "We are calling for an international force to protect the Palestinian people and this call is not new. We have been calling for it for the last 30 years and we are still calling for an international force to protect Palestinians."

Also on Saturday, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier met with Mubarak in Cairo.

The visit was part of his diplomatic effort to end the fighting.

Editor:Shi Taoyang