Clinton Says Israel Can’t ‘Stand Idly By’ Over Gaza

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the U.S. understands Israel’s need to respond to rocket fire on its southern towns from the Gaza Strip and pledged to work with any new Israeli government.

“There is no doubt that any nation including Israel cannot stand idly by while its territory and people are subjected to rocket attacks,” Clinton said after meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem today during her first foray into Middle East diplomacy.

Clinton came to Jerusalem from Egypt, where the U.S. and international donors sought to bolster Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who controls the West Bank, and undercut the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip. Israel fought Hamas two months ago in a 22-day military operation it said was intended to stop rocket attacks.

After parting from Peres, Clinton went straight to Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust remembrance complex. She was escorted by Yisrael Meir Lau, a former Israeli chief rabbi, to a ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance in which she rekindled the eternal flame for the 6 million Jews killed by the Nazis and laid a wreath on a crypt of ashes of Holocaust victims.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is "a good friend of Israel," Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Tuesday.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Jerusalem, FM Livni said that Clinton had "shown a deep understanding of the needs of Israel," as well as "an understanding of the nature of the threats that we have here in the region"
Noting this week's US decision to boycott an upcoming UN conference on racism, Livni said the move was "symbolic," and added her personal gratitude."
Clinton stressed the "unrelenting" US commitment to Israel's security, specifically criticizing continuing rocket attacks out of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
Clinton also discussed the threat from Iran.
"When we talk about engagement with Iran, do not be in any way confused, our goal remains the same: to dissuade and prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and continuing to fund terrorism," she said. "Whatever we do will be done thoughtfully in consultation with our friends and Israel, most particularly Israel.

"It's up to the people and the government of Israel to decide how to define your interests," she said.