Obama Reiterates Support for "Israel", Russia Urges Calm, Self-Restraint

Local Editor

US President Barack Obama on Friday reiterated his country's support for "Israel" during a call with "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the "Israeli" aggression on Gaza.

In a summary of the conversation, the White House stated that Obama reiterated US support for the so-called "Israel's" "right to defend itself."
Moreover, it expressed "regret over the loss of "Israeli" and Palestinian civilian lives."
Netanyahu, who initiated the call, expressed his deep appreciation for US investment in the Iron Dome rocket and mortar system, "which has effectively defeated hundreds of incoming rockets from Gaza and saved countless "Israeli" lives," according to the readout.

Obama on Friday also spoke with Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi, "commending his country's efforts to de-escalate the situation and expressing his hope that these efforts would be successful," the White House said.
"The president...underscored the importance of resolving the situation as quickly as possible to restore stability and prevent further loss of life," said a summary of that call, which was initiated by Obama.

Meanwhile, US War Secretary Leon Panetta also spoke to his "Israeli" counterpart Ehud Barak by phone Friday and received an "update on the situation" in Gaza, a senior official told reporters traveling with the Pentagon chief.
The two men, in their second phone conversation this week, discussed "prospects for de-escalation," the military official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

For its part, Russia urged "Israel" to exercise restraint in the Gaza crisis with the foreign ministry in Moscow expressing "deep concern", the Interfax news agency reported.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking by phone with his counterpart Avigdor Lieberman, cautioned that "Israel" and the Hamas movement must not fall into a spiral of violence.

"Everything must be done to calm the situation," Lavrov said, and urged on the sides involved in the "Israeli"-Palestinian conflict to show restraint and not follow the path of escalating violence that often results in the death of innocent civilians."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org