Posted on 07/27/2014 2:33:18 PM PDT by SJackson
WASHINGTON (JTA) — President Obama told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he wants an “immediate, unconditional humanitarian” cease-fire in the war with Gaza, based on a process Israel has made clear it opposes.
The statement Sunday afternoon from the White House describing a phone call between the two leaders referred to cease-fire talks led in recent days by Secretary of State John Kerry which culminated in a proposal rejected unanimously on Friday by Israel’s security Cabinet.
“Building on Secretary Kerry’s efforts, the president made clear the strategic imperative of instituting an immediate, unconditional humanitarian cease-fire that ends hostilities now and leads to a permanent cessation of hostilities based on the November 2012 ceasefire agreement,” the statement said.
Israeli leaders rejected Kerry’s proposal in part because it envisions talks with Hamas toward ends that Israel believes would reward a group it rejects as illegitimate, including opening borders.
Additionally, Israel wants any cease-fire to allow Israeli troops to continue tracking and destroying tunnels from the Gaza Strip into Israel, which Israel says were in place to facilitate a massive terrorist attack on Israeli communities.
Obama in his statement addressed some of the Israeli concerns, which were not made explicit in drafts of Kerry’s proposal leaked to media over the weekend.
“The president underscored the United States’ strong condemnation of Hamas’ rocket and tunnel attacks against Israel and reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself,” the statement said. “The president also reiterated the United States’ serious and growing concern about the rising number of Palestinian civilian deaths and the loss of Israeli lives, as well as the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza.”
The statement from Obama also nodded to another Israeli demand, that Gaza be demilitarized, although it suggested this was a long-term goal.
“The President stressed the U.S. view that, ultimately, any lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must ensure the disarmament of terrorist groups and the demilitarization of Gaza,” it said.
So far the conflict launched July 8 has killed more than 1,020 Palestinians, most of them civilians, and 43 Israeli soldiers and three civilians in Israel.
FUBO!!!
Hey Barac Obamma, Call the Hamas Terror Organization and tell them to back out of civilian households.
Oh wait, Barac is Hamas commander and chief.
I am preaching to the choir here, but one does not release things like this to the media when it is an ally of the US. It is horrible behavior.
Didn’t everyone know the ruler of the world knows what is best?
0bama needs to have a serious talk with his Hamas buddies.
From Bibi to Barry! Sierra Tango Foxtrot Uniform! Is that “humanitarian” enough for you Barry?
Gets my vote...
Bite me, Obama.
Hey Barack baby, they’re on to you...
And in turn, Netanyahu tells Obama to “kiss his kosher ass”.
End of story.
CC
Which came first??
Hamas or the Democrats??
I would LOVE to say right to Obama’s ugly mug that he can take his demands and kiss my ass!!! And I think I speak for a lot of people who share that same sentiment..Israel doesn’t give a crap what Obama says, they know who he stands with and that is Hamas..NOT Israel
Obama’s new world order requires that the predators be on top. Obama’s utopia can only be achieved through totalitarian oppression, so he is ALWAYS on the side of the destructive aggressor.
Fortunately for Israel the rest of the world has even less respect for the Kenyan Kommie and his potato faced SOS than do his own ‘subjects’.
Netanyahu tells Obama to go **** himself.
That's exactly what I'm hoping Netanyahu said to Obama.
The future must not belong to those who slander bacon!!!
I'm guessing Bibi's post-call comments were limited to a simple hand gesture directed at the phone followed by an eruption of laughter from others in the room.
Hamas has a friend in the White House.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.