(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry Sopkesman)
Vice Prime Minster and Minister of Foreign affairs Tzipi Livni welcomed the statement issued by the G8 Summit yesterday (July 16). The G8 statement placed the responsibility for the outbreak of the crisis in Gaza and Lebanon on Hizbullah and Hamas.
The Foreign Minister said that the G8 statement attests to the fact that "Israel and the international community share common values and are facing a common problem which is expressed through the actions of extreme terrorist elements, such as the Hizbullah and Hamas."
Foreign Minister Livni added that "Israel believes along with the international community that these extremist elements are responsible for the conflict, and that the path to a solution lies with the release of the abducted soldiers, the cessation of rocket fire on Israel and the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1559. Israel will cooperate with the international community, with a view to translating these principles into a concrete political plan of action."