Jerusalem - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday agreed to “give a chance” to an Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire to end a week of bloodshed in and around Gaza, a statement from his office said.
“A short while ago Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with United States President Barack Obama and agreed to his recommendation to give a chance to an Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire and thereby give an opportunity for the stabilisation of the situation and a calming of it before there is a need to use greater force,” it said.
“The prime minister expressed his deep appreciation to the US president for his support for Israel throughout the operation and for his contribution to the Iron Dome system,” he said, referring to a vaunted anti-missile system which has intercepted more than 420 rockets fired from Gaza during the latest violence.
“The prime minister repeated that Israel will take all the necessary steps to protect its citizens,” it concluded. - Sapa-AFP