DM Barak: "A few hours ago, the political echelons ordered
the IDF to launch Operation Pillar of Defense in Gaza. The accuracy of the
intelligence on behalf of both the Israel Security Agency and our Military
Intelligence, as well as the precise action of the IDF, led to the elimination
of Hamas' military leader Ahmed Jabari. We also struck most of the long range
Fajr missiles and additional Hamas infrastructure.
Israel does not want war. But Hamas' consistent provocation
in recent weeks, in particular the incessant rounds of artillery rockets and
mortars into the heart of our southern communities, the tunnel which exploded
deep into Israeli territory, the anti-tank missile fired at a jeep - again
inside of Israel - forced our hand into acting with both precision and
decisiveness."|
- Full
statement
President Shimon Peres spoke to US President Barack
Obama about the situation in southern Israel and Gaza. At the start of
the conversation President Peres updated President Obama about the situation on
Israel's southern border and said, "The head of the military force of Hamas
was killed half an hour ago. He was a most extreme man and was in charge of all
the attacks and assassinations from Gaza against Israel. We shall handle it with
great care. Our intention is not to raise the flames, but already for days, day
and night, they are shooting
rockets at Israel. Women cannot fall asleep. I
was today there with the children. You know, there are limits. So I want you
to know and I wanted to explain our motives."
PM Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with US President Barack Obama.
The Prime Minister expressed his deep appreciation for US President Obama's
support of Israel's right to defend itself.
Press
Statement by Mark C. Toner, Deputy Spokesperson, State Department,
Washington, DC
November 14, 2012
We strongly condemn the barrage of rocket fire from Gaza into southern
Israel, and we regret the death and injury of innocent Israeli and Palestinian
civilians caused by the ensuing violence. There is no justification for the
violence that Hamas and other terrorist organizations are employing against the
people of Israel. We call on those responsible to stop these cowardly acts
immediately. We support Israel's right to defend itself, and we encourage Israel
to continue to take every effort to avoid civilian casualties.
Hamas claims to have the best interests of the Palestinian people at heart,
yet it continues to engage in violence that is counterproductive to the
Palestinian cause. Attacking Israel on a near daily basis does nothing to help
Palestinians in Gaza or to move the Palestinian people any closer to achieving
self determination.