Tuesday, 6th January 2009

Any ceasefire must stop Hamas rocket fire into Israel - Bush

Reuters

US President George W. Bush said yesterday any cease-fire to end the Gaza crisis must include provisions that prevent Hamas from using the coastal strip to fire rockets into Israel.

"Instead of caring about the people of Gaza, Hamas decided to use Gaza to use rockets to kill innocent Israelis," Mr Bush told reporters after a White House meeting with a Sudanese official. "Israel's obviously decided to protect itself. Any cease-fire must have the conditions in it so that Hamas does not use Gaza as a place from which to launch rockets," Mr Bush added.

He said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had briefed him earlier yesterday on the Gaza situation.

"The US is concerned about the humanitarian crisis. We care about the people of Gaza and therefore have provided millions of dollars of fresh aid to the UN to help," he said.

"All of us of course would like to see violence stop," Mr Bush said, but added that the cessation should not come at the expense of steps needed to prevent a Gaza crisis from recurring.

Previous article • Food, medicine and body bags in short supply - aid agencies
Next article • EU, Russia to hold talks over gas

Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Sunday, November 22, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Alison Natalie Keeler (on 7/1/09)

In my opinion, the situation tragically demonstrates that violence breeds violence; contempt breeds contempt. Conversely, understanding breeds understanding; compassion breeds compassion; trust breeds trust; and ultimately, love breeds love.

As with all difficult situations in life, whatever our age, race, gender or religion, it sometimes takes a few hard knocks for us to realise (a) we are all imperfect (b) other people are not us and we have no control over other people, only ourselves (c) with rights, come responsibilities (d) all life is seasonal; there are ups, downs and plateaus (e)None of us can really know anything beyond our own existence - and only God can judge. How sad it makes me to learn of more violence, more pain, more deaths, more destruction, more terror, more dislocated families, businesses, communities, and so it goes on. Hurting us all. Be it directly or indirectly, wars cost the world.

Whatever our stance in life, our background or upbringing, surely we all agree that war achieves nothing. Other than to benefit arms manufacturers, coffin makers and a handful of others who make financial gain from atrocities against humanity. When will we learn.