Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit on Saturday 25/8/2007 strongly condemned the current Israeli military operations in the Palestinian territories.

"These military actions, both in the Gaza strip and the West Bank, escalated the tense situation and deprive of the chance to build mutual confidence between the Palestinians and the Israelis", Abul Gheit was quoted as saying.

The top Egyptian diplomat called on Israel to put an end to such practices which can only reflect the resolve of the Jewish state to use force against the Palestinian people.

"The Israeli operations, which have caused several deaths of innocent Palestinians, run counter to all serious efforts made recently to revive the stalled Middle East peace process that could be conducive to the establishment of a Palestinian state", Abul Gheit added.