French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine said on Monday that the European Union would consider a Palestinian request to take part in a US commission to investigate the ongoing violence in West Bank and Gaza, reported Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
Vedrine's remarks were made after a meeting with Palestinian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Nabil Shaath, said the agency.
"We understand the Palestinian request to open appropriate investigation.
"As president Clinton proposed the establishment of an investigation commission, we hope that all parties will be in favor of such commission and Europe will be pleased to participate," Vedrine said.
Shaath, who met earlier met with French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, called for the presence of international observers in the areas of violence to prevent what he called a new flare-up of fighting, KUNA said.
"We hope to see a force of international observers in all areas of direct fighting, mainly around the Al-Aqsa Mosque and around the Palestinian cities. This is necessary to prevent new violence and to allow for the continuation of the peace process," Shaath said.
Meanwhile, the European parliament, based in Strasbourg, took a one-minute silence in sympathy for the relatives of Palestinians who were killed during the fighting in the occupied territories, according to the agency.
The EU parliament said it was ready to join the European Union in the efforts to defuse tension, and to bring the Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table, KUNA said - Albawaba.com
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