Israel has right to protect itself
ASSOCIATED PRESS | 05.01.2009 19:33
US President George W. Bush, in his first public reaction to Israel's ground invasion of Gaza, said Monday that the Jewish state was justified in protecting itself against Hamas terrorists.
"I understand Israel's desire to protect itself," Bush said at the White House. "The situation now taking place in Gaza was caused by Hamas."
Israel on Saturday began moving tanks and troops in the coastal Gaza Strip after a week of air raids on Hamas targets.
"Instead of caring about the people of Gaza, Hamas decided to use Gaza to launch rockets to kill innocent Israelis," Bush said. "Israel's obviously decided to protect herself and her people."
The president said he is still hopeful for a cease-fire, which he described as a noble ambition, but he said no peace deal would work unless it forces Hamas to stop its attacks.
Bush also expressed US concern about the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza, for which the president blamed Hamas.
Bush said violence must be stopped, "but not at the expense of an agreement that does not prevent the crisis from happening again."
In his weekly radio address, released last Friday before the Israeli ground invasion, Bush called the Hamas rocket attacks an "act of terror."
Meanwhile, a US State Department spokesman told reporters Monday that the Bush administration is pressing for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip that would include three main elements, including a halt to Hamas rocket firing into Israel.
Spokesman Sean McCormack said that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had been working the phones with numerous foreign leaders in pursuit of such a cease-fire agreement, but that much detailed work remained.
In addition to halting the rocket fire from Gaza, McCormack said, the proposed cease-fire would include an arrangement for reopening crossing points on the border with Israel.
The third element would entail addressing the issue of tunnels into Gaza from Egypt through which Hamas has smuggled a variety of materials, including arms.
Israel on Saturday began moving tanks and troops in the coastal Gaza Strip after a week of air raids on Hamas targets.
"Instead of caring about the people of Gaza, Hamas decided to use Gaza to launch rockets to kill innocent Israelis," Bush said. "Israel's obviously decided to protect herself and her people."
The president said he is still hopeful for a cease-fire, which he described as a noble ambition, but he said no peace deal would work unless it forces Hamas to stop its attacks.
Bush also expressed US concern about the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza, for which the president blamed Hamas.
Bush said violence must be stopped, "but not at the expense of an agreement that does not prevent the crisis from happening again."
In his weekly radio address, released last Friday before the Israeli ground invasion, Bush called the Hamas rocket attacks an "act of terror."
Meanwhile, a US State Department spokesman told reporters Monday that the Bush administration is pressing for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip that would include three main elements, including a halt to Hamas rocket firing into Israel.
Spokesman Sean McCormack said that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had been working the phones with numerous foreign leaders in pursuit of such a cease-fire agreement, but that much detailed work remained.
In addition to halting the rocket fire from Gaza, McCormack said, the proposed cease-fire would include an arrangement for reopening crossing points on the border with Israel.
The third element would entail addressing the issue of tunnels into Gaza from Egypt through which Hamas has smuggled a variety of materials, including arms.
ASSOCIATED PRESS