Czech EU presidency: Israel acts defensively

The Czech EU presidency said tonight that it views Israel's ground operations in Gaza as "a defensive, not offensive policy". The Czech presidency perceives in the context of the past days the operation by Israeli ground forces in the Palestinian Gaza Strip as a defensive, not offensive policy, Jiri Potuznik, Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's spokesman for the presidency, told CTK today. Czech EU presidency: Israel acts defensively The Foreign Ministry then said in a statement sent to CTK that this was not a surprising step by Israel. "There were indications that Israel had been considering this step," Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said in the statement. He said, however, that not even the indisputable right of a state to defend itself allows actions which largely affect civilians. Schwarzenberg also called for a cease-fire to be agreed on and for allowing humanitarian aid to reach people in Gaza. Potuznik said briefly before the Czech ministry issued this official communiqué that the Czech Republic is waiting for a definitive confirmation of the information about Israeli ground forces operations in the Palestinian Gaza Strip and the results of the EU mission to the region. The mission starts on Sunday and it will be headed by Schwarzenberg.

Czech EU presidency: Israel acts defensively

The Foreign Ministry then said in a statement sent to ČTK that this was not a surprising step by Israel.

"There were indications that Israel had been considering this step," Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said in the statement.

He said, however, that not even the indisputable right of a state to defend itself allows actions which largely affect civilians.

Schwarzenberg also called for a cease-fire to be agreed on and for allowing humanitarian aid to reach people in Gaza.

Potuznik said briefly before the Czech ministry issued this official communiqué that the Czech Republic is waiting for a definitive confirmation of the information about Israeli ground forces operations in the Palestinian Gaza Strip and the results of the EU mission to the region.

The mission starts on Sunday and it will be headed by Schwarzenberg.