By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Saturday that the peace talks with Palestinians must continue despite the escalating tension in Gaza, local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
Livni made the remarks over phone talks on current situation in Gaza with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, whose country holds the current presidency of the European Union, according to the report.
Livni reiterated Israel’s commitment to protect its citizens from terror attacks, stressing that the threat made by Palestinian National Authority to suspend the peace talks will not affect Israel Defense Forces (IDF)’s operation in Gaza.
“Even if the Palestinians wish to suspend the peace talks with Israel, it will have no effect on Israel’s decisions in Gaza,” Livni was quoted as saying, adding that terror groups must not be allowed to freeze the political process.
Earlier in the day, Palestinians threatened to suspend peace talks with Israel after some 35 Gazans, at least half of them civilians, were killed in violence that escalated sharply on Saturday.