TEL AVIV, Israel—Senator George Mitchell, President Obama’s newly appointed envoy for the Middle East arrived in Israel on Wednesday. Building tensions in the area is clouding his visit.
On Tuesday IDF force was attacked by Palestinians in the Gaza border, and one soldier was killed. Israeli Air Force has responded by attacking tunnels in the Gaza-Egypt border and killing a person said to be linked to the explosion on Tuesday.
Mitchell’s visit was in a time of tension of the recent day’s events. He met with Israeli President Shimon Peres and other officials. Earlier, he also met in Cairo with Egypt President Hosni Mubarak who updated him on the Egyptian initiation for ceasefire.
On Wednesday a Qassam rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip and landed in an open area in Israel. Shortly afterwards, Israeli warplanes bombed a target in Gaza Strip. IDF has stated that the target was a weapons manufacturing facility, and that it was attacked as a response to the Qassam firing into Israel. IDF spokesperson stated that “as the sole authority in the Gaza Strip, Hamas bears full responsibility of all terror originating from within its area of control.”
Mitchell said in Jerusalem: “Of critical importance is consolidating the ceasefire, including a cessation to smuggling and reopening of crossings based on the 2005 agreement.” He also said, “President Obama has said that the U.S. is committed to Israel’s security and to its right to defend itself against legitimate threats.”
During Mitchell’s visit, Hamas leadership met in Doha, Qatar, and discussed the Egyptian ceasefire. According to the Associated Press, Hamas leader then spoke from Doha saying that the Hamas will not accept the ceasefire, since they are rejecting Israel’s conditions that the crossings will be fully reopened only after the issue of the kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit is resolved.
On Tuesday IDF force was attacked by Palestinians in the Gaza border, and one soldier was killed. Israeli Air Force has responded by attacking tunnels in the Gaza-Egypt border and killing a person said to be linked to the explosion on Tuesday.
Mitchell’s visit was in a time of tension of the recent day’s events. He met with Israeli President Shimon Peres and other officials. Earlier, he also met in Cairo with Egypt President Hosni Mubarak who updated him on the Egyptian initiation for ceasefire.
On Wednesday a Qassam rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip and landed in an open area in Israel. Shortly afterwards, Israeli warplanes bombed a target in Gaza Strip. IDF has stated that the target was a weapons manufacturing facility, and that it was attacked as a response to the Qassam firing into Israel. IDF spokesperson stated that “as the sole authority in the Gaza Strip, Hamas bears full responsibility of all terror originating from within its area of control.”
Mitchell said in Jerusalem: “Of critical importance is consolidating the ceasefire, including a cessation to smuggling and reopening of crossings based on the 2005 agreement.” He also said, “President Obama has said that the U.S. is committed to Israel’s security and to its right to defend itself against legitimate threats.”
During Mitchell’s visit, Hamas leadership met in Doha, Qatar, and discussed the Egyptian ceasefire. According to the Associated Press, Hamas leader then spoke from Doha saying that the Hamas will not accept the ceasefire, since they are rejecting Israel’s conditions that the crossings will be fully reopened only after the issue of the kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit is resolved.
