Obama again talks with Netanyahu on Gaza attacks
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama spoke separately to Israeli and Egyptian leaders Friday night as violence escalated in Gaza and Israel signaled a possible ground invasion.
Palestinian militants took aim at Jerusalem for the first time Friday, launching a rocket attack on the holy city as Israel pressed forward with a relentless campaign of airstrikes against Gaza.
The White House says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Obama to provide an update on the situation. Netanyahu expressed appreciation to Obama and the American people for U.S. investment in the Iron Dome rocket and mortar defense system, which has been used to defend Israel against rocket attacks from Gaza, saving many Israeli lives, the White House said.
Obama reiterated U.S. support for Israel's right to self-defense and discussed possible ways to scale back the conflict, the White House said. It did not offer specifics.
Separately, Obama called Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi on Friday and praised Egypt's efforts to ease tensions in the region, the White House said. Obama expressed hope that Egypt's efforts would be successful, officials said.
In both calls, Obama expressed regret for the loss of Israeli and Palestinian civilian lives and underscored the importance of resolving the situation as quickly as possible.
Obama also spoke with the Israeli and Egyptian leaders on Wednesday.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak called Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Friday during Panetta's flight from Bangkok to San Francisco as he returned to the U.S. from an Asia-Pacific tour, a senior Pentagon official said. In their second phone conversation this week, Barak briefed Panetta on the situation with Gaza and the prospects for de-escalation of the violence.
Militant groups have staged rocket attacks against Israel, which has responded by assassinating the military chief of the ruling Hamas militant group and conducting dozens of airstrikes on suspected rocket-launching sites and other Hamas targets in Gaza.
In all, 27 Palestinians and three Israelis have been killed.
About 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered Friday night outside the White House, where they chanted slogans denouncing Netanyahu and the Israeli army. Many carried signs that said, "Let Gaza Live" and called for an end to U.S. aid to Israel.
Nadrat Siddique of Annapolis, Md., said she joined the protest in solidarity with fellow Muslims who have been killed in Gaza. "We feel like an attack on Palestinians is an attack on all Muslims," said Siddique, who was born in Pakistan. She and other protesters said Israel would not conduct air strikes without U.S. support and called on Obama to end "bloodthirsty attacks" by Israel.
The protest was organized by the ANSWER Coalition, a left-leaning group that has worked with Palestinian activists.
Palestinian militants took aim at Jerusalem for the first time Friday, launching a rocket attack on the holy city as Israel pressed forward with a relentless campaign of airstrikes against Gaza.
The White House says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Obama to provide an update on the situation. Netanyahu expressed appreciation to Obama and the American people for U.S. investment in the Iron Dome rocket and mortar defense system, which has been used to defend Israel against rocket attacks from Gaza, saving many Israeli lives, the White House said.
Obama reiterated U.S. support for Israel's right to self-defense and discussed possible ways to scale back the conflict, the White House said. It did not offer specifics.
Separately, Obama called Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi on Friday and praised Egypt's efforts to ease tensions in the region, the White House said. Obama expressed hope that Egypt's efforts would be successful, officials said.
In both calls, Obama expressed regret for the loss of Israeli and Palestinian civilian lives and underscored the importance of resolving the situation as quickly as possible.
Obama also spoke with the Israeli and Egyptian leaders on Wednesday.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak called Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Friday during Panetta's flight from Bangkok to San Francisco as he returned to the U.S. from an Asia-Pacific tour, a senior Pentagon official said. In their second phone conversation this week, Barak briefed Panetta on the situation with Gaza and the prospects for de-escalation of the violence.
Militant groups have staged rocket attacks against Israel, which has responded by assassinating the military chief of the ruling Hamas militant group and conducting dozens of airstrikes on suspected rocket-launching sites and other Hamas targets in Gaza.
In all, 27 Palestinians and three Israelis have been killed.
About 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered Friday night outside the White House, where they chanted slogans denouncing Netanyahu and the Israeli army. Many carried signs that said, "Let Gaza Live" and called for an end to U.S. aid to Israel.
Nadrat Siddique of Annapolis, Md., said she joined the protest in solidarity with fellow Muslims who have been killed in Gaza. "We feel like an attack on Palestinians is an attack on all Muslims," said Siddique, who was born in Pakistan. She and other protesters said Israel would not conduct air strikes without U.S. support and called on Obama to end "bloodthirsty attacks" by Israel.
The protest was organized by the ANSWER Coalition, a left-leaning group that has worked with Palestinian activists.
Morsi can't do anything except play the same two faced game other Islamic leaders do. Peace in English and the opposite in Arabic. Not that Hamas will listen to him anyway, these groups hate each other just as much as they hate Israel.
 @Lbaba Hate is burning them all up to the brink of insanity.... sad. :(
The lefts facination with terrorist groups is mind boggling. Hammas has been firing rockets regularly into Israel and when the Israeli's have had enough and respond the liberal goofies light up.
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 @opout You're correct this is nothing new. Do you consider my comments as liberal goofy?
Why does Obama have any right to discuss the Palestinian and Israeli conflict? Is Israel located in America? Iran in addition is doubling its enrichment process and will be done in a matter of months with a nuclear core that can be affixed to a nuclear warhead. Obama has exhausted sanctions, failed in diplomacy and more than likely will allow Iran to become a nuclear armed nation. How do you feel about a nuclear armed terrorist country such as Iran?
 @Funky-Munky I share your concerns about Iran, but since Iran backs Hamas.....well, it kind of worries me about THEIR feelings about Israel.....it's well documented what the leaders of Iran want to have happen there........
 @Susabelle That's why I feel Obama needs to step up his game... Allowing Iran anymore time puts Israel in more danger. I am angry with Obama for allowing Iran to continue to defy U.N. inspections. It's apparent the last time was supposed to be it pertaining to U.N. inspections being thwarted by Iranian leadership. The last round before the last round of sanctions were supposed to be it for Iran. I don't want war with Iran but they haven't given America much of a choice. Their continued defiance and funding of "terrorist" organizations should've been enough to pulverize them. (my belief)
 @Susabelle I can barely handle my own stress let alone a country and Congress that's divided... yuck...
 @Funky-Munky Some people like to be abused I guess........myself, I dont think I would care to live under a microscope and be responsible for the welfare of a nation at the same time.
 @Susabelle I wouldn't want to be president for all the money in the world. Kind of scares me Obama asked for a second term....
 @Funky-Munky I do agree........and I also feel sorrow for the Iranian people. We had friends of the family that spent many years in Iran back in the 70's........ People who disagree with that government just disappear... I keep hoping that the young people there will rise up... but that is what brought us the crisis in the 80's...and now? Even sanctions do little but hurt the people, I'm not sure I support war, but I dont have any other solutions either. I guess everyone is just lucky I'M not the president, huh?
I hope Israel will wipe them out of Gaza
 @wynooheeman Hamas or everyone living in Palestine? Had to ask because your answer is to kill anything that moves pertaining to animals. I kind of get the feeling "hate" comes easy to you from the comfort of your computer.
 @Funky-Munky  @wynooheeman Well seeing as Hamas was elected by the people in Gaza they all are bearing the consequences of that. This is the problem in the Middle East as most of the countries are stuck in the 7th century mentally and the West encourages democracy, then they vote for fanatics. No surprise things are the way they are and sad for the innocent people that have no choice but to go along on an idealistic train to their own destruction.
 @Lbaba In addition they are destroying America economically, dividing us and continuing to bring darkness upon our world. I wish we could just get it on with Iran and anyone else that continues to draw us into these sorts of backwards countries petty problems. It would seem race, religion and resources may be the death of us all. pathetic.
This and the debt we owe are the two biggest stories of our generation. Don't take your eye off the ball.
"Gaza attacks?" This is a response to Hamas attacking Israel!! I'm glad this story is an AP story and not a KOMO story. I expect AP to be clueless at best, or biased at worst. I still have hope for KOMO to try and get it right.
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 @CameToTakeYourJobs That's what happens when groups of terrorists such as Hamas hide amongst women and children. New to the realities of war? New to fighting an enemy that wears no uniform?
 @CameToTakeYourJobs Would you sit idle with rockets coming into America? Israel has shown great restraint provided warning upon warning and now a severe response is and will occur. It's simple retaliate and escalate until the other side yields. The only thing you have correct is there's two-sides to every story. Israel hasn't committed ethnic cleansing. Rather Israel is punishing those who harbor "terrorists" amongst women and children. It's difficult to fight an enemy that wears no uniform. Education should be a priority for you.
 @Funky-Munky  @CameToTakeYourJobs This is an ethnic cleansing done by Israelis. They thought well by Nazis and now became Nazis themselves. Hopefully for once Arab world unites and attacks them and defend Palestinians.Â
 @CameToTakeYourJobs  @gotrhythm Hamas are a bunch of terrorists that need to be exterminated like the vermin they are. ALL terrorists and their sympathizers need to be wiped off the face of this planet. Period.
 @T H I S Careful THIS, your ignorance and "inner ass" is showing......again. There are policies and parts of BOTH parties I agree with, and there are parts of both parties that I'm revolted by. There is JUST as much embarrassment being called a Dem as there is being called a Repub, as BOTH parties are full of whining, stubborn little crybabies HELL BENT on getting their OWN way, not matter WHO suffers for it. You can take BOTH parties, and shove em. WHERE is up to YOU :)
 @T H I S You naughty little meany.... Ha!
 @WolfenÂ
Yeah I know... one of those new independents. Too embarassed to call yourself a republican, but you just happen to always agree with their derp. In fact, the derpier they are, the more likely you are to agree with them.
 @flyskiwindsurf I thought you were referring to Wolfen being a Republican.... Hence my remark Callin' him out.... no need to get too nasty with me.... I like debate and enjoy takin' to you! Hell don't you know I am an armchair warrior. Ha! :D)
 @Wolfen My father was a Recon Ranger in Vietnam... 65'-69' !
 @flyskiwindsurf Sadly it appears Hamas has a choke hold on the people... :(
@Funky-Munky Hamas actually seems to control the Palestinians more that vice versa.
@Funky-Munky Really? No they are not. But at least this one seems to have disappeared âFunky-Munky said @flyskiwindsurf Are you callin' him out?â You luckily deleted another of your posts before I could finish responding. But I still have it. And then you contradict yourself even here. But I donât like being talked to, engaged in conversation, or being said hello to. And a number of your posts here and in other threads do seem to be âfrivolous with no substanceâ. That is at least partially why I am usually not sure whether to take you seriously or not.
 @flyskiwindsurf Looks like I was wrong Wolfen was taken out by default pertaining to injury to his eye. Mea Culpa. I post and discuss with many must have confused his posts with another. sorry. :(
 @Wolfen Oh, I thought you served. Mea Culpa.... I decided I wasn't fit for the job because I believe war is blow stuff up, kill the enemy and bring them to their knees immediately and come home. I don't believe in occupations or policing others countries.
 @Funky-Munky  @flyskiwindsurf Funky, as much as I would have loved to serve my country, I was rendered blind in one eye as a child, and was rejected by our armed forces. I come from a long line of military members, and though I think like them and have learned from them, I never served like them. :{
 @flyskiwindsurf I hate that part about war.... The everyday people always get stuck in the middle. I would personally deliver Hamas to the Israeli border if I lived in Palestine. I wouldn't allow my country to go to Hell in a hand-basket for harboring radical Islamic Extremists that hide amongst women and children.
@Funky-Munky Well that was not what I was referring to with that post. I was referring to your other post before you deleted it. However I would not be surprised if Israel is taking very qualified volunteers into their various operations as well as they are probably taking most other helpful donations that you would care to send. You might want to check all of that out. And I do agree that Israel is in a very difficult position. But we already pretty much know how things will turn out, at least initially, if Israel does go in.
 @flyskiwindsurf They're still here. I was talking with you and those deleted were trying to engage you in conversation. In other words frivolous with no substance. Kind of like saying hello or something.
 @flyskiwindsurf No, but I would provide support to Israel in anyway I could including volunteering in their army. I love Israeli's. I am not fond of their leadership, but I do love and care for their everyday people. How would you like to be surrounded on all sides by hostiles? Diplomacy will not work with Palestinians the hate, mistrust and religious intolerance from both sides will not dissipate. There can be only one outcome. It will involve one side or the other yielding after getting pummeled. That's war.
@Funky-Munky Wow funk. You delete your posts as fast as I respond to them. Go figure. Maybe from now on I will just wait a day or so before I respond to various posts of yours.
@Funky-Munky It seems that people who actually were in real battles come down on all sides of things like this but it also does seem that a lot of people who actually were in real battles tend to come down on the side of trying to avoid war unless absolutely necessary. I would say, however, that Israel has put up with a lot from Hamas (maybe we should remove the last âaâ from Hamas), the Gaza Strip, and others for quite a while now. So maybe it is time to go in and clean a lot of it out. I would just hope that as much as possible is considered and tried before all out war occurs. But maybe that has already happened. I just get upset at times with posters who seem to be foaming at the mouth for more war.
@Funky-Munky So what are you hoping for that? Are you planning on selling tickets or something?
@opout Well some do say that âignorance is blissâ but olfen does seem to be an exceedingly mean and nasty poster.
@Wolfen Yeah right.
@Wolfen
Retaliate and escalate... Only one course of action for Israel to take now. It looks like Palestine will get thumped hard now because of allowing Hamas to exist in their country. I guess Palestinians haven't learned harboring "terrorists" such as Hamas will have dire consequences. How long do you think America would put up with rocket attacks in our country? Israel has shown great restraint.
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Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war
 @Wolfen  @T H I S Me too.... Frack the Republican vs. Democrat vs. G.O.P stupidity. If you're unable to be an American without "thought" on your own and wish to be a follower of "ideology" political titles. It's you who's weak and pathetic.
 @T H I S For the LAST time, I'm neither Democrat, NOR Republican. I have the ability of INDEPENDENT thought. :)
@Wolfen @CameToTakeYourJobs @gotrhythm
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Ignorance must be difficult to live with.
 @Wolfen and innocent civilians too?
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Well of course. This from the same republicans who are so pro-life, but who cares if 150,000 innocent iraqi citizens are killed (not to mention 4500 american soldiers) in a war about..... wait.. where were those WMDs again?Â
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Its not big deal... just casualites od (an unjust) war.
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But you are pro-life right.Â
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 @gotrhythm This story has been all OVER the internet worldwide citing Hamas as the aggressor.....leave it to our sensationalistic media to give it a "spin". Next headline in the Enquirer......Obama asks Israeli Prime Minister "leave my Muslim brothers alone?"
How is he going to do that when he is a SECRET MUSLIM.Â
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You done went and benghazied all your talking points. Â
@Wolfen Difficult determine there. Anymore the Enquirer seems to be more respected by most than is faux snooze. Go figure.
 @T H I SBefore you cr@p your high and mighty throne THIS, note that I said "Enquirer".....or does the irony of that escape your eagle Obama defending eye?