Washington – President Barack Obama spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi Wednesday night about rocket attacks being launched from Gaza into Israel and escalating violence in the Gaza Strip.
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The White House said Obama reiterated U.S. support for Israel’s right to self-defense from rocket attacks being launched against its civilians and urged Israel to “make every effort to avoid civilian casualties” in its response.
Israel carried out a blistering offensive of more than 50 airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, assassinating Hamas’ military commander in the most intense attack on the territory in nearly four years.
Israel said the airstrikes, launched in response to days of rocket fire out of Hamas-ruled Gaza, were the beginning of a broader operation against Islamic militants. Israeli defense officials said a ground operation was a strong possibility in the coming days though they stressed no decisions had been made.
Obama and Netanyahu agreed that Hamas needs to stop its attacks on Israel to allow tensions to ease, the White House said. The two leaders agreed to stay in close touch in the coming days. Earlier Wednesday Netanyahu also spoke to Vice President Joe Biden on the events in Gaza.
Obama spoke separately to Morsi, given Egypt’s central role in preserving regional security, the White House said. The two men agreed on the need to de-escalate the conflict as quickly as possible.
With at least 10 Palestinians dead, including two young children, Wednesday’s offensive was certain to set off a new round of heavy fighting with Gaza militants, who have built up a formidable arsenal of rockets and missiles.
It also threatened to upset Israel’s relations with neighboring Egypt and shake up the campaign for Israeli elections in January. In a preliminary response, Egypt recalled its ambassador to Israel in protest.
Israel’s relations have been deteriorating with Egypt’s new Islamist government, and Egypt’s lawless Sinai desert has become a staging ground for militant attacks on Israel.
So, if the Canadian government started shelling New York, Israel should call up the U.S. and urge it to avoid civilian casualties in response?
We must be in a fruit loop reality. Israel is shelled, and Obama (thanks all you Jews who voted for him!) has his main concern on Israel’s retaliation.
Bush made the same statements about avoiding civilian casualties.
The comments above are so pathetic, but then again, I don’t expect more from the Obama haters. What do you want him to say, “make sure you kill civilians”? George W. Bush said the same thing about civilians, by the way, whenever Israel took military action. But Bush can say it and no one blinks. Obama says it and he must be anti-Israel. I wonder why. Actually, I don’t wonder why. The answer is clear for all to see, in black and white.
Israel should go into syria who funds hamas and assasinate assad ym”v
Doesn’t anybody have the gumption to admit when they are mistaken anymore?
Obama recognizes Israel’s right to self-defense! He only added a statement that is appropriate (albeit superfluous) that Israel should (continue) do(ing) their utmost to avoid civilian casualties.
I would have said the same thing. (Although I would have also mentioned that it’s obvious that Hamas is not careful about civilian casualties…)
I predicted that Obama would show his true colors after winning a 2nd term. So far his true colors ain’t too bad…
If the President continues being fair and even-handed then I would say to all the Anti-Obama alarmists “Don’t be disappointed. Let’s be glad that you were mistaken about him!”
what kills me about the Obama haters, is that they want him to say negative things about Israel, or in this case, are trying to find negative things. That way they can justify their baseless hatred.Instead of being happy the US is supporting Israel, they would rather Us not support, so they can continue to hate.
It is the same problem in Congress. They would rather things like unemployment go up, and the economy to slow down, if it gives them a better chance of winning back the White House….as opposed to working on behalf of the country and rooting for it
Grow up! Canada bombing NY or Crown Heights bombing Boro Park, yada yada. Really? How old are you?
The fact is that there is only one country that does NOT tell Israel to show “constraint” when their citizens are attacked.