International

SP Member of Parliament Harry van Bommel is urging Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal to take action to help prevent increasing tensions in Gaza from escalating into war. Van Bommel’s plea was prompted by the bombing of the Palestinian enclave by the Israeli air force in retaliation for a racket attack which had resulted in injury to a person in the kibbutz at Askalon. The Israeli reprisal left five dead.

SP Members of Parliament Ewout Irrgang and today demanded greater clarity from the government regarding the deployment of a naval provision ship, the Amsterdam, off the Ivory Coast. The government yesterday stated that it had responded to a request from France for maritime support for the safety of nationals of EU member states in the troubled West African country.