US President George W. Bush on Tuesday said that violence in the Gaza Strip was "troubling" while reaffirming his belief that Israel, which launched a massive attack there, had a right to target "extremists."
"The unfolding violence in the Gaza Strip is troubling and underscores the need for all parties to seize every opportunity for peace," he said in a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a powerful pro-Zionist body.
"The United States is strongly committed, and I am strongly committed, to the security of Israel as a vibrant Jewish state. Israel is a democracy and a friend, and has every right to defend itself from terror," he said, according to AFP.
Later, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the United States understood Israel's reasons for the raid, which it said was to smash tunnels used to smuggle weapons under the border with Egypt.
"The Israelis have told us they will make every effort to minimize the impact on Palestinians not involved in acts of terrorism or arms smuggling," he told reporters. (albawaba.com)
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