MID: Israel rules out temporary ceasefire in Gaza
31 Dec 2008 6:51 PM
JERUSALEM, Dec 31 AFP - Israel has ruled out agreeing to a temporary truce in its offensive on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, a senior Israeli official says.
"The proposition by the French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner for a unilateral temporary ceasefire is not useful as it is evident that Hamas will not stop firing rockets against Israel," the official told AFP on Wednesday on condition of anonymity.
But Israel was examining international proposals for reaching a permanent ceasefire in its massive offensive against Hamas, a foreign ministry spokesman said.
