ISRAEL: GERMAN DEFENCE MINISTE PETER STUCK PRAISES ISRAELI'S GOVERNMENT DECISION TO WITHDRAW FROM GAZA

Record ID: 860004

  • Title: ISRAEL: GERMAN DEFENCE MINISTE PETER STUCK PRAISES ISRAELI'S GOVERNMENT DECISION TO WITHDRAW FROM GAZA
  • Date: 7th June 2004
  • Summary: (W7) TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (JUNE 7, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) WIDE OF ISRAELI DEFENCE MINISTER SHAUL MOFAZ SITTING AT TABLE WITH GERMAN DEFENCE MINISTER PETER STRUCK CLOSE OF MOFAZ CLOSE OF STRUCK SIPPING WATER WIDE OF MOFAZ STANDING AT PODIUM SPEAKING TO THOSE ASSEMBLED SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI DEFENCE MINISTER SHAUL MOFAZ, SPEAKING ABOUT ISRAELI'S PURCHASE OF GERMAN SUBMARINES, SAYING: "Your commitment to the strategic relations with Israel and the continuation of your support, especially your support in security, is most appreciated. This support is crucial to promise our advantage. The most important assistance in the past decade is, no doubt, the supply of the submarines, which have had a significant contribution to the power of Israel." PAN OF PEOPLE LISTENING TO SPEECHES SCU (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN DEFENCE MINISTER PETER STRUCK, SPEAKING ABOUT THE ISRAELI CABINET'S DECISION ON GAZA, SAYING: "The Europeans and the Americans can only help and they will do everything and will try in the framework of the roadmap as there deos not seem to be an alternative that will succeed. Here, I would like to relate to the most courageous decision that the goverment made yesterday and I can tell you, Mr. Mofaz, that we will do everything to support the decision made yesterday." WIDE OF STRUCK SPEAKING
  • Embargoed: 22nd June 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TEL-AVIV, ISRAEL
  • City:
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA2ZIU2PMC6QP7KVLBCPG6GPD85
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: German Defence Minister Peter Struck has praised the Israeli government's "courageous" decision in principle to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.
    Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz met his German counterpart Peter Struck for talks in Tel-Aviv on Monday (June 7) following a meeting with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon earlier in the day.
    Media reports said Struck's talks with Israeli officials would focus on the security situation in the Middle East and Israel's reported intention to purchase two more German submarines.
    "The most important assistance in the past decade is, no doubt, the supply of the submarines, which have had a significant contribution to the power of Israel," Mofaz said during a festive dinner which the two attended.
    Struck praised the Israeli government for making such a "courageous" decision in the cabinet on Sunday (June 6), where the goverment voted in principle on a staged withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
    "I can tell you, Mr. Mofaz, that we will do everything to support the decision made yesterday," Struck told Mofaz.
    The Gaza withdrawal plan was passed by 14 votes to seven on Sunday but only after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon placated mutinous ministers in his right-wing Likud party by agreeing not to evacuate Jewish settlements for at least nine months and then in four phases each requiring a vote.
    Struck arrived in Israel from Djibouti where he visited German troops stationed aboard a frigate.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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