German chancellor blames Hamas for escalation
EU foreign affairs chief calls for stop to rocket attacks.
Norwegian FM “It is Right & Important that Israel Defends itself!”
By TOVAH LAZAROFF, REUTERS
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and German Chancellor Angela Merkel both issued strong statements in support of Israel’s right to defend itself on Friday.
Ashton added that she hoped Egyptian Prime Minister Hesham Kandil’s visit to Gazaon Friday morning would calm the situation.“The rocket attacks by Hamas and other factions in Gaza, which began this current crisis are totally unacceptable for any government and must stop,” she said.