Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said he preferred a diplomacy solution to end the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza Strip.
"I prefer a diplomatic solution," said Netanyahu in a statement after meeting with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle. "We seek a diplomatic unwinding to this through the discussions of cease-fire. But if the firing continues, we will have to take broader action, and we won't hesitate to do so."
The Israeli army has massed upwards of 40,000 troops and armor on Gaza's border for preparation of a possible ground operation.
"I hope that we can get one," Netanyahu said, "but if not, we have every right to defend ourselves with other means and we shall use them."
Westerwelle, in reply, said that before a cease-fire could be achieved, "There is one key condition for everything else, which is the stop of the missile attacks against Israel. This is a clear message, not only of the German Government, but this is also the message what the EU FMs yesterday sent out."
Westerwelle added that "it's also important to see that Egypt plays a key role."
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is heading for Israel for talks with both Israel and Palestinian leaders, Israeli Foreign Ministry sources confirmed to Xinhua Tuesday morning. She is expected to meet with Netanyahu and Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Israel Radio reported.
Clinton's possible arrival comes at a crucial moment as Cairo- mediated separate cease-fire talks with Israel and Hamas aim to end the mutual attacks between the two sides.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon is also set to arrive later Tuesday and meet with President Shimon Peres and other officials, according to a statement sent to Xinhua.
In Jerusalem overnight, Netanyahu's so-called "forum of nine" ministers discussed possible terms of a cease-fire, but so far, no conclusions have been divulged to the media.
"Over the past seven days Hamas and the other terror organizations in Gaza have fired over 1,500 rockets at Israel. These rockets have been fired at schools and at homes," President Shimon Peres said when he met with Westerwelle.
"Israel is committed to stopping the ongoing rocket fire at the civilians in the south. We greatly appreciate your efforts to bring an end to the attacks on Israeli civilians and to bring hope to the region," Peres told the German envoy..
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