US gives Israel free rein on Gaza invasion

ArticleData Array ( [Article] => Array ( [article_id] => 1004044 [headline] => US gives Israel free rein on Gaza invasion [abstract] => The Bush administration has given Israel free rein over whether to send ground troops into Gaza, despite growing criticism over its handling of the brutal conflict. [keywords] => Bush, Israel, Gaza [content] =>

US President George W. Bush on Friday urged all able parties to press Hamas to stop firing rockets at Israel and secure a lasting ceasefire, after a week of heavy Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

His administration meanwhile gave Israel free rein over whether to send ground troops into Gaza, despite growing criticism over its handling of a conflict that has killed more than 400 Palestinians, including civilians.

"The United States is leading diplomatic efforts to achieve a meaningful ceasefire that is fully respected," Bush said in his weekly Saturday radio address, the text of which was released by the White House late Friday.

These were his first remarks since the conflict erupted a week ago.

He said "I urge all parties to pressure Hamas to turn away from terror, and to support legitimate Palestinian leaders working for peace," including Mahmud Abbas, president of the US-backed Palestinian Authority.

He said he has been in contact with Abbas as well as King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah II of Jordan, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel.

Bush says Hamas to blame

Bush, who hands the White House to his successor Barack Obama in just 18 days, blamed Hamas for the latest violence and rejected a unilateral ceasefire that would allow Hamas to continue to attack Israel from the Gaza Strip.

Hamas shared power with the Palestinian Authority for a period after winning parliamentary elections in the West Bank and Gaza in 2006 but the arrangement collapsed and Hamas seized power outright in Gaza in June 2007.

"This recent outburst of violence was instigated by Hamas -- a Palestinian terrorist group supported by Iran and Syria that calls for Israel's destruction," Bush said.

Bush said the Israeli strikes were in self-defense after Hamas let a six-month ceasefire lapse on December 19 and fired rockets at Israel.

He also accused Hamas of putting Palestinian lives at risk by hiding among them.

White House deputy press secretary Gordon Johndroe earlier said the United
States has urged Israel to avoid civilian casualties in their military operations, whether they involve continued air assaults or a ground incursion.

"Those will be decisions made by the Israelis," he said when asked if Israel would be justified in launching a ground assault.

Israel has thousands of troops massed for a ground offensive on Gaza thatwould aim to deal a hammer blow to Hamas and re-establish Israel's military credentials with its other foes, experts said.

Rice seeks ceasefire, targets Hamas

After briefing Bush earlier, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Washington sought a "ceasefire that would not allow a re-establishment of the status quo ante where Hamas can continue to launch rockets out of Gaza."

She added: "It is obvious that that ceasefire should take place as soon as possible, but we need a ceasefire that is durable and sustainable."

Rice has had a flurry of consultations with her counterparts from Israel, Arab countries as well as Russia, Britain and the European Union, officials said. Johndroe added that Rice has also spoken to Obama in the last week.

Asked if she planned to travel to the Middle East to broker an end to the crisis, Rice replied: "I have no plans at this point."

US accused of ‘lopsided’ support

The Israeli offensive has killed at least 435 Palestinians, including 66 children, and wounded 2,150 others, according to Gaza medics.

It has prompted condemnation from around the world, but particularly from Arab and Muslim countries.

In New York, Amnesty International sent a letter to Rice berating the administration for its "lopsided" support for the Israeli assault and urged it to suspend weapons deliveries to Israel.

Zbigniew Brzezinski, who was national security adviser for US president Jimmy Carter, told CNN television that Rice's remarks "clearly show that the US policy right now is completely bankrupt" and the Israeli offensive "will further radicalize the Palestinians."

He said Obama, whom he supports, will have to make a "fresh start" when he succeeds Bush on January 20.

[start_date] => 03 January 2009 | 01:36:21 PM [comments_allowed] => 0 [source] => AFP [commentCount] => 0 [video] => [image] => Array ( [caption] => Outgoing US President Bush has called for all parties to increase pressure on Hamas to end the current conflict (Getty Images). [useRegularImage] => 1 [media_library_id] => 57237 [site_id] => 1 [media_library_group_id] => 0 [media_usage_id] => 0 [filename] => site_1_rand_949080046_2902_bush_economy_l_getty.jpg [title] => 2902_bush_economy_L_getty_949080046 [description] => file:site_1_rand_949080046_2902_bush_economy_l_getty.jpg [type] => [height] => 338 [width] => 450 [source] => [video_hi] => [video_lo] => [section] => [display_order] => 0 [create_date] => 2009-01-03 13:40:32 [active] => 1 [media_usage] => Article Large [usageWidth] => 300 [usageHeight] => 225 ) [imagePath] => http://media.sbs.com.au/news/upload_media/ [audio] => [reporter] => [relatedLinks] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 1004030 [label] => Hamas warns of 'black destiny' [display_order] => 1 [type] => Article ) [1] => Array ( [id] => 1004026 [label] => No end in sight for Gaza violence [display_order] => 2 [type] => Article ) [2] => Array ( [id] => 1003983 [label] => Australian Muslims condemn Gaza conflict [display_order] => 3 [type] => Article ) ) [relatedArticles] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [article_id] => 1004030 [headline] => Hamas warns of 'black destiny' [abstract] =>

Warplanes killed three young brothers and demolished a mosque in Gaza as Hamas warned that a "black destiny" awaits Israel if ground forces join the offensive.

[content] =>

Warplanes killed three young brothers and demolished a mosque in Gaza as Hamas warned that a "black destiny" awaits Israel if ground forces join the week-long offensive.

"If you commit the stupidity of launching a ground offensive then a black destiny awaits you," the Islamist group's Syrian-based chief Khaled Meshaal said in a pre-taped speech aired on Al-Jazeera television.

"You will soon find out that Gaza is the wrath of the God," said Meshaal as Israeli aircraft continued pounding the Hamas stronghold.

The United States gave Israel free reign on whether to send troops into the densely populated Palestinian territory, insisting that the key to a ceasefire is an Israeli demand for Hamas to permanently halt rocket fire.

"So I think any steps they are taking, whether it's from the air or on the ground or anything of that nature, are part and parcel of the same operation," said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

“Those will be decisions made by the Israelis."

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with senior ministers as tanks and troops stood at the ready on the Gaza border.

Israel's main ally, the United States, said it was working with Middle East allies on brokering a ceasefire.

“We are working toward a ceasefire that would not allow a re-establishment of the status quo ante where Hamas can continue to launch rockets out of Gaza," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said after talks with President George W. Bush.

Three children killed

A missile fired by an Israeli jet slammed into a house in southern Gaza, killing three boys, aged from seven to 10. It was one of more than 58 fresh raids carried out in the overcrowded enclave on Friday.

A 12-year-old girl died of her wounds after the bombing of a house near Gaza belonging to a member of Islamic Jihad, and two gunmen from the armed wing of Hamas were killed in Jabaliya after firing rockets, medics said.

Since Israel unleashed its air and sea campaign, at least 435 Palestinians have been killed, including 66 children, and 2,150 others wounded, according to Gaza medics.

The bombardment has demolished dozens of houses and heightened concern over the humanitarian situation in the enclave where most of the 1.5 million residents depend on foreign aid.

"The protection of civilians, the fabric of life, the future of the peace talks and of the regional peace process has been trapped between the irresponsibility of the Hamas attacks and the excessiveness of the Israeli response," Robert Serry, the UN envoy for the Middle East, told reporters in Jerusalem.

Thousands of Hamas faithful attended the funeral of Nizar Rayan – a firebrand hardliner who was killed with his four wives and 11 children on Thursday.

Hamas vowed to avenge the death of the most senior Hamas leader killed by Israel since Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi in 2004 and warned that it could resume suicide attacks against Israel for the first time since January 2005.

‘Day of wrath’ Gaza protests

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Gaza and the occupied West Bank after Hamas called for "day of wrath" protests. Police fired teargas at rock-throwing youths in annexed east Jerusalem.

With a ground offensive widely expected and no ceasefire in sight, the Israeli army opened a border crossing to allow an estimated 400 people with foreign passports to leave the battered enclave.

A mosque in the northern town of Jabaliya that the military said was a "terror hub" used for stockpiling weapons was among the targets hit in Israeli raids on Friday.

Fighter jets also fired missiles at Gaza's defunct international airport near the Egyptian border, according to Hamas and witnesses.

Hamas fired more than 30 rockets into Israel, but no casualties were reported.

Israel unleashed "Operation Cast Lead" on December 27 in response to persistent rocket fire.

Gaza militants have fired more than 360 rockets into Israel over seven days, killing four people and wounding dozens more.

Widespread international protests

The Israeli offensive has sparked angry protests in the Muslim world and defied diplomatic efforts to broker a truce.

Demonstrations were held in many countries following Friday Muslim prayers, including Afghanistan, Egypt, Indian-administered Kashmir, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey.

Protests also took place across Europe, where Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni reiterated that Israel was not yet ready for a truce after talks on Thursday with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Peace moves were also stalled at the UN Security Coucil as "the gravity of the diplomatic activities... will be moving this weekend to New York," according to UN Middle East envoy Serry.

[content_type_id] => 3 [site_name] => World News Australia [articledate] => 3 January 2009 [articletime] => 3 January 2009 [display_order] => 1 ) ) [comments] => Array ( ) ) [winston] => test )