Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu remains firm in his position, unwilling to approve a visit to Gaza by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. The senior minister explained he wanted to visit Hamas-controlled Gaza as renovations get underway in al-Quds Hospital, a project that enjoys cooperation from the governments of France and Qatar.

Israel this week delivered a message to French officials, explaining Jerusalem is unwilling to bend its Hamas isolation policy and therefore, Kouchner would not be permitted access to cross into Gaza via southern Israel.

In response, France announced the planned high-level diplomatic visit is being postponed due to a EU foreign ministers conference in Brussels.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)