Barack Obama: We fully support Israel's right to defend itself

– video

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2012/nov/18/barack-obama-support-israels-video

The US president, Barack Obama, says he supports Israel's right to defend itself
from missiles falling on Israeli territory launched by Palestinian militants in Gaza.
Speaking in Thailand, during the first leg of his south-east Asia tour,
Obama said persuading Israel not to attack would depend on the success of efforts by Middle East leaders to bring a halt
to Hamas rocket fire into Israel

Source: Reuters,
Length: 26 sec,
Sunday 18 November 2012

Gillard condemns attacks on Israel

Date November 16, 2012


Bianca Hall



Prime Minister Julia Gillard has condemned the attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip, saying the rocket attacks will not help the Palestinian campaign for self-determination.

In a statement, Ms Gillard said Australia was gravely concerned by the escalating conflict.

''The government condemns the repeated rocket and mortar attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip and calls on Hamas to cease these immediately,'' Ms Gillard said.

''Australia supports Israel's right to defend itself against these indiscriminate attacks. Such attacks on Israel's civilian population are utterly unacceptable.''

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She urged both Israel and Hamas to exercise restraint, and said any escalation in the attacks by Hamas ''will not serve the interests of the Palestinian people or their cause for self-determination and statehood''.

''The government of Australia will work earnestly with other countries to end further attacks from Gaza and to encourage a de-escalation of this conflict,'' she said.

''We encourage regional countries, particularly Egypt, to support efforts to restore peace.

''The only way forward is a two-state solution based on direct negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis.''

In Sydney, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott told reporters that Israel's actions were justified.

''Israel has a right to self-defence and Israel has been under pretty serious attack from elements in Gaza for quite some time now,'' Mr Abbott said.

''The authorities in Gaza plainly are not stopping those attacks and it's perfectly appropriate for Israel to take strong steps in response.

''Australia should do what it can to ensure the countries of the Middle East recognise and acknowledge Israel's right to exist within secure borders.''

Foreign Minister Bob Carr and Environment Minister Tony Burke urged restraint.

But Mr Burke said there was little Australia could do in practical terms.

''We can't pretend that a nation like ourselves is going to be able to ride in and simply fix this,'' Mr Burke told the Seven Network on Friday.

''But the call for restraint should be made by Australia, it's being made by countries around the world, because ultimately until you end up with a two-state solution the (alternative) will always be conflict.''

Israel has carried out 24 hours of air strikes on Gaza, killing 15 Palestinians, at least seven of them Hamas militants, while over the same period, militants fired more than 200 rockets at Israel, killing three people and injuring 16, AFP has reported.

with AAP

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/gillard-condemns-attacks-on-israel-20121116-29fx8.html

Israel is to be commended for the restraint they have shown and for their diplomacy.

They have my blessings!

im actually hoping isreal goes in and takes care of business. push them idiots back into the stone age. let eat rocks and dirt for a few thousand yrs!

im so over hearing about these little rogue countries and factions. just send them to hell- either their hell or ours, i dont care which!

They can take the Ireali leaders and the warmonging idiots who support them, with them! Using a bomb to kill a bee that stings you is a bit of overkill! Like cutting off your leg because you stubbed your toe.

Back away from support of the Isreali warmongers and see how load their sabers rattle then!

Nuclear bullies supported by warmonging idiots!

If someone keeps slapping me and I ask them to stop. I have turned my cheeks so many times. Don't expect me not to knock that person out. Would that make me a warmonger because I reacted to continued abuses? How many of their people die from those attacks? How many is too many before a reaction becomes warranted? So, if Canada one day just started raining missiles upon the heads of US citizens, then the US shouldn't react to that provacation?

So, Israel should just sit there and take whatever is thrown at them without defending itself?

Maybe if they all just left each other the heck alone then this wouldnt be a discussion now would it? This controversy is almost as bad as the question which came first the chicken or the egg? What does it matter impositions and sanctions? They weren't made for a reason? I don't agree with anyone hurting anyone visa versa on the situation. All I am saying is that no matter the infraction continuing it is the crime on both sides. Stop sending missiles, stop the sanctions and live, breath, love and pray.

Nuke the entire site from orbit--it’s the only way to be sure.

As the deadly conflict in the Middle East continues, tonight CNN's Piers Morgan will interview Shimon Peres, allowing the president of Israel to offer a response amidst those that disapprove of his nation's airstrikes into Gaza:

“Well you know, whoever criticizes us should suggest an alternative – we started with great restraint. In the last six days thousand two hundred [1,200] missiles fall on our civilians lives, on mothers, on children," says Peres. "We tried to do it with restraint, but apparently they hide themselves in private homes, even in mosques, and we are trying to do our best not to hit any civilian on the other side, but unfortunately a war is a war and they can stop it in one minute if they’ll stop shooting, there won’t be any causalities."

Joining Piers Morgan Tonight from his home in Jerusalem, Peres insists that the Palestinian militant group Hamas is most to blame for initiating the violence and death that has dominated the news cycle since last week:

"We don't know why all of a sudden they start to shoot. I’m not talking about civilians only, but at the children ... you know, they start to shoot at eight o’clock in the morning when children go to the school. Why? What for? I mean it is not in our hand, you know, that – to terrorism, to fight terrorism is not a pleasant experience, and they don't care," he tells Morgan. "They are really producers of death, and without any consideration."

http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/19/cnns-piers-morgan-exclusively-talks-with-israeli-president-shimon-peres-9pm-et/

Exactly! Don't keep poking a Tiger with a stick and then cry to Mamma when it turns on you.

Duuuuh!

It's over-the-top that they shoot at the children. Eight in the morning? Ridiculous. More disgusting when these children have to suffer through it, through no fault of their own. Are we back to World war 2? It seems like it. All because of silly wars like this. If neither of those coubtries back down, then it's their own stupid fault.

Welcome to the murky World of Pallywood where nothing is as it seems!

The media has done it's job well selling stupidity and insanity, wholesale slaughter of women and children, and crippling sanctions by a bullying nuclear power as a just cause to armchair idiots who buy and preach the rhetoric!

Let your neighbor fence you in, control your every movement, keep food and medical supplies from you, bomb or bulldoze your house, kill your children, beat you up just for being who you are, your religious belief, or where you were born...... you may throw a few unwanted objects his way yourself!

Bully Isreal is taking a bomb laden fighter jet to a fist fight!

Only an idiot would glorify actions this insane when they know absolutely nothing about it other than what the media sells them!

Of course those same idiots buy the line that such actions by our own POTUS/gov't is acceptable, even murder without warrant of our own citizens!

And we wonder why the world is going to hell.......

Advocating genocide? Of course you were joking and in no way serious

"Killem all let God sort'em out"
-Duke nukem

"hell"? is the concern, here mentioned, literally or figuratively?

My statement covers both those bases.... why limit the obvious?