Washington – President Barack Obama called for Israelis and Palestinians alike to restrain themselves and put an end to acts of retribution, in some of his first public comments on the matter since the murder of three Israeli teenagers touched off a new round of violence and deepening mistrust.
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In an op-ed in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Obama called it a “dangerous moment” for the region where a vaunted U.S. peace effort recently collapsed. Writing in emotional terms, he said he couldn’t imagine the pain suffered by the parents of the three Israeli teens, but was also heartbroken by the senseless murder of a Palestinian teenager who many suspect was killed as payback.
“All parties must protect the innocent and act with reasonableness and restraint, not vengeance and retribution,” Obama said.
Obama’s comments, published in Hebrew, Arabic and English, reflected growing U.S. concern about tit-for-tat violence spiraling out of control as the fragile situation in Israel appears to deteriorate.
After dozens of rockets rained on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, Israel’s military on Tuesday launched an offensive operation including airstrikes that Palestinians said injured at least nine. Israel authorized the mobilization of some 1,500 military reservists in an escalation that evoked uneasy memories of Israel’s other incursions into the Hamas-controlled coastal strip.
After the bodies of the three Israelis were discovered, Obama issued a brief written statement, but hasn’t spoken about the situation publicly. Haaretz said the op-ed published late Monday was intended for the newspaper’s upcoming peace summit. The White House said the op-ed was written before June 30 – the day the three Israeli teens were found dead – but later updated to reflect more recent events.
Obama didn’t mention Tariq Abu Khdeir, the cousin of the murdered Palestinian, who was arrested after clashing with Israeli forces. The State Department has said it’s “deeply troubled” by reports that Abu Khdeir, a Palestinian-American, was badly beaten.
Obama also offered strong praise for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is under pressure as Israel seeks to use the murder of the three Israelis to discredit his newly formed unity government with Hamas.
“In President Abbas, Israel has a counterpart committed to a two-state solution and security cooperation with Israel,” Obama said. He offered no parallel praise for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Obama said the U.S. was disappointed that American-backed peace talks fell apart, but said the U.S. won’t give up on peace.
“When the political will exists to recommit to serious negotiations, the United States will be there, ready to do our part,” Obama said.
Look for a good Dr .
I just don’t have words other than I hope moshiach comes before jan 20, 2017
Its insane that he can stand by and say nothing at all while the rockets and missiles keep sailing over to Israel and risking the lives of thousands of Israeli citizens. What a phony creep.
Obama has no credibility in international matters.
Sounds like the double standard is being placed again.
Hold restraint yet they can reign rockets like distributing candy on simchas torah!
Someone kindly tell him to shut up and go back to Chicago!
Moron
I gradda am happy that there is so much quiet from the world, the less Obama opens his mouth, the less damage is done
His father was muslim, which in the eyes of the muslim world, makes him muslim too. What else do you expect?
Quinnipiac Poll was right–you are the worst president since WWII–worse than Jimmy Carter was–maybe you’ll go and help him with Habitat for Humanity, but then again, you don’t like getting your hands dirty.
Obama said he was “deeply troubled” by reports that Abu Khdeir, a Palestinian-American, was badly beaten”; how about being “deeply troubled” about the American Jew?.
As I said, I don’t expect much from “Hussein”……
Agree with most of above comments. The sad fact is that WE are to blame for electing him. Democrats, independents and an overwhelming plurality of Jews voted for this anti-semitic charlatan…and nebech, if he ran for a third term, the result will be the same. When will we learn?
What a disgusting excuse for a president. He has no shame to be so openly one-sided and favoring his own people…not a word of praise for Netanyahu for immediately condemning the death of the arab boy, for his immediate arrest of the young suspects, for the (undeserved) sympathy call to the arab kid who got hurt while throwing rocks at Israeli police….he only has praise for abbass who doesn’t not condemn terror against Israel, who made no sympathy call to the parents of the 3 Kedoshim, and who has nothing but encouragement for his terrorist homeboys.
Overtly the US Prexy is a Christian. Judging by his actions he is a Muslim. He never spoke up when our children were kidnapped. He only spoke up after they were found dead. And then, mixed their death with that of a Muslim. When he was elected I said he was a Marxist and a Muslim. Now I’ll a third “M”–a momzer.
I was angry when he said nothing, and now when he finally bestirs himself to speak I wish he would just up.
He simply doesn’t like Jews. I’m not saying he’s a full-blown anti-Semite, but he’s just not a friend, and to him Israel is just an annoying little country that makes him look bad, and why can’t it just go along with him.
He was elected president of the United States, not Prime Minister of Israel. He is actually more mild in his call for restraint from both sides than certain members of the Israeli Kenneset have been in blaming everything on Israel.
Google Bush, Clinton and Reagan white house reactions to Arab – Israeli violence and you’ll see there is nothing new here.
Wait, that would require thinking for yourselves when Rush, Hannity and Levin have already told you what to think. Never mind.
“. The State Department has said it’s “deeply troubled” by reports that Abu Khdeir, a Palestinian-American, was badly beaten.”
Hmm shouldn’t they be more concerned over the fact that we have another homegrown lil terrorist?!
I don’t see any reports when American Haredi bachorim get beaten up by Israeli police very once and a while.
I am very encouraged. Not so long ago, any mentioning of this president in any group dominated by modern orthodox, such as this blog, would cause a pretty much even split between pro- and against. These days, anti-Obama opinions are running the landslide, even among the not-so-frum here, and pro- are barely represented by an illiterate #14 and an ever-present contrarian adroitly named GasX #18 .