Foreign Minster Westerwelle spoke on the phone with Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman this evening about the situation in Gaza and southern Israel.

During the conversation, Foreign Minister Westerwelle expressed his great concern in view of the violent clashes there.

He underscored Israel’s right to defend itself and to protect its citizens. Missile attacks from Gaza on targets in southern Israel were to be clearly condemned, he went on to say.

At the same time, Foreign Minister Westerwelle emphasized that everything possible had to be done now to de escalate the situation and to avoid civilian casualties.