Jerusalem - Israel said Wednesday that it viewed as "positive" the Egyptian-French attempts to advance a diplomatic solution ot the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

A terse official statement said:

"Israel is working to improve the security reality in the south of the country. Israel thanks Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak and French President Nicolas Sarkozy for their efforts to advance a solution for halting terrorist actions from Gaza and the smuggling of war material into the Gaza Strip from Egypt.

"Israel views as positive the dialogue between Egyptian and Israeli officials in order to advance these issues," the statement concluded.

The Egyptian-French ceasefire proposal was announced Tuesday night by Mubarak and Sarkozy rak, who met with visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Israel began its Gaza Strip offensive on December 27, in response to incessant rocket barrages from the salient. (dpa)