The Dutch-Danish proposal for an EU mission to monitor the border between Gaza and Egypt is a ‘useful’ component in the diplomatic initiatives to bring peace to the region, Israel’s prime minister Ehud Olmert is quoted as saying.

The Dutch state information service said prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende and Olmert had telephone contact on Wednesday about moves to bring in a ceasefire.
The Dutch prime minister urged Israel to work constructively with the various diplomatic initiatives currently under way to bring peace to the region, the statement said. These include a Dutch-Danish proposal for an EU mission to monitor the border between Gaza and Egypt.
Balkenende also urged Olmert to do more to prevent civilian casualties and to open up the borders to relief workers and the media.
Meanwhile a survey in Thursday’s AD shows that Dutch support for Israel is waning. A slim majority (51%) says Israel is using too much force in its efforts to eradicate Hamas and just under a quarter supports Israel’s actions.