German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke with reporters during his visit to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Monday, bluntly declaring that the pace of economic and humanitarian recovery in the Strip was largely dependent on Hamas and other terror militias not attacking Israel. “We need local investments, and from abroad. Hence we also need the possibility to export the goods, which are being produced here (in Gaza). This can happen only by opening the borders,” he said. “But the whole truth is: all this will, under most difficult circumstances, happen only when there is real certainty … that (Gaza) is no longer a launching pad for rockets.” He added that all sides “recognize that we are sitting on a powder keg and are taking care that it doesn’t ignite.” In related news, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah told the Washington Post Monday that all future negotiations with Israel must be conducted through the UN. Read More
