Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said his country will participate in an international military force to keep peace in the Palestinian territories after the signing of a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, Dutch media reported Tuesday.
"I promise I will do my utmost to ensure a Dutch contribution to this international force, which could be led by NATO, as soon as it has received a mandate," Verhagen told the Herzliya security conference in Israel on Monday.
Verhagen said there must be no "security vacuum" if Israel ends its occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
"The best way to guarantee this is to station a powerful international force there," he said.
Verhagen also called on Israel to reopen the Gaza Strip borders for exports to improve the Palestinian economy.
He asked for restraint from the Israeli side in reaction to violence from Palestinians.
Israel must take measures to ensure the safety of its people, Verhagen said, but these should be proportional.
Source: Xinhua
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