France condemned the arrest of deputy Palestinian Prime Minister Nasser al-Shaer by Israeli troops earlier Saturday, French Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

"We reiterate our condemnation of the arrests of members of the Palestinian authority. Only a political procedure based on dialogue will allow an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," added the ministry in a statement.

Al-Shaer, 45, also education minister, was arrested at his residence in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

Besides al-Shaer, Israel also took into custody several Hamas ministers and over 20 Hamas legislators including Parliament Speaker Aziz Dweik after Palestinian militants kidnapped one Israeli soldier and killed two others on June 25.

Source: Xinhua