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Israel says French truce proposal unrealistic

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-31 16:13

JERUSALEM - Israel on Wednesday described as unrealistic a French proposal for a truce that would halt hostilities with Hamas Islamists for 48 hours so that more humanitarian aid could reach the Gaza Strip.

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"That proposal contained no guarantees of any kind that Hamas will stop the rockets and smuggling," Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said. "It is not realistic to expect Israel to cease fire unilaterally with no mechanism to enforce the cessation of shooting and terror from Hamas."

But Palmor said Israel had not rejected the proposal, one of several under consideration, outright. Another Israeli official said France might propose amendments to its plan.