Opening Mideast peace talks under the shadow of fresh violence, President Barack Obama vowed Sept. 1 not to allow “extremists and rejectionists” to undercut long-stalled negotiations on creating a sovereign Palestinian state beside a secure Israel.
Standing with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Obama condemned the Aug. 31 killings of four Israelis who were shot while traveling near the West Bank city of Hebron. Hamas, which rejects Israel’s right to exist and opposes peace talks, claimed responsibility.
“There are going to be extremists and rejectionists who, rather than seeking peace, are going to be seeking destruction,” Obama said. “I want everybody to be very clear. The United States is going to be unwavering in its support of Israel’s security. And we are going to push back against these kinds of terrorist attacks. And so the message should go out to Hamas and everyone else who is taking credit for these heinous crimes that this is not going to stop us.”
Netanyahu thanked Obama for condemning the West Bank attack, saying the killings were carried out by people who don’t respect human life and who “trample human rights into the dust and butcher everything they oppose.” — ap