RAMALLAH, February 11, 2008(WAFA)- The cabinet said that Israeli escalation against the Gaza Strip would pull the region back into violence and spoil peace efforts.

In its weekly meeting, held in Ramallah on Monday, the cabinet made it clear that Israeli escalation and threats coincided with an escalation in the West Bank and Jerusalem, at time Jewish settlements and construction of the annexation and expansion Wall continue, alongside assassinations and arrests.

The government called for lifting the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and opening the crossings, so as to put an end to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.