Minister of Foreign Affairs of France to President Peres:
I've come to try and secure a ceasefire
 
President Peres to French Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Our aim to stop the rocket fire from Gaza into Israel
 
The President of the State of Israel, President Shimon Peres, conducted a work meeting with the French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Mr. Laurent Fabius, who came to the region for a series of talks in Israel and the Palestinian Authority in light of the current security situation. Minister Fabius will continue from the President's Office to a meeting in Ramallah with Mahmoud Abbas.
President Peres welcomed the Mr. Fabius and said, "The State of Israel was left with no choice but to defend herself. They are shooting towards us at the times when our children leave for school. The question is why are they shooting? We must understand that there are millions of innocent civilians in Israel who can't sleep due to fear from rockets." President Peres stressed that Israel seeks peace and has no interest in war but added that, "Israel has set itself a target to end the rocket fire and to allow the mothers in the south a good night's sleep, something that hasn't happened for too long."
Foreign Minister Fabius thanked President Peres and said that he knows the situation in the south is hard, but there are also fatalities in Gaza. He explained that he had been sent to the region by President Hollande because the situation is an emergency. He said that war must be averted in the long run and a ceasefire agreed as soon as possible. He concluded by saying that France is a peace-seeking country and is contact with everyone to try and bring quiet to the region.