In response to the attack yesterday near Hebron in the West Bank in which four Israelis were shot dead, Federal Foreign Minister Dr Guido Westerwelle issued the following statement in Berlin today (1 September):

“I condemn yesterday’s attack in the West Bank in the strongest possible terms. The sole objective of this attack was to impede the start of direct negotiations.

I hope all sides will consider their response very carefully and not allow themselves to be deflected from the path of negotiation and peace.”