By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
France and Norway urged Israel on Monday to stop attacks on civilian targets in the Gaza strip, and demanded the release of Gilad Shalit
French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy met Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Stoere during a brief visit to Arendal, about 200 kilometers south of Oslo.
"The Israeli soldier must immediately be released, as must the Palestinian lawmakers arrested by Israel," Stoere was quoted as saying by the Norwegian news agency NTB.
Douste-Blazy said it was crucial to support Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
"If there is complete chaos on the political and civilian level, it would lead to more radicalization on the Palestinian side and even stronger countermeasures by Israel," he said.