TORONTO, June 26, 2010 (WAFA)- The leaders of the world's eight top industrial democracies on Saturday called the current tensions in Gaza 'unsustainable,' the Israeli daily Haaretz reported.
The countries - the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and Russia – drafted the statement at the end of a meeting in Canada of the eight powers, and before a larger group of 20 nations was to convene. 'The current arrangements are not sustainable and must be changed,' the statement read.
The G8 said that it 'deeply regretted' the loss of life that occurred when Israeli commandos raided an aid flotilla off Gaza in May, killing killed nine pro-Palestinian activists, and welcomed Israel's decision to set up an independent public commission to investigate the events.
'We welcome the Israeli Cabinet’s announcement of a new policy towards Gaza as a positive development. We urge full and effective implementation of this policy in order to address the needs of Gaza’s population for humanitarian and commercial goods, civilian reconstruction and infrastructure, and legitimate economic activity as well as the legitimate security concerns of Israel that must continue to be safeguarded,' the statement went on to say.
