For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretay
April 17, 2004
Statement Regarding Abdel Aziz Rantisi
Statement by the Press Secretary
As we have repeatedly made clear, Israel has the right to defend
itself from terrorist attacks. Hamas is a terrorist organization that
attacks civilians, and that claimed responsibility for the suicide
attack today that killed one and injured other Israeli guards at the
Erez crossing. The United States is gravely concerned for regional
peace and stability. The United States strongly urges Israel to
consider carefully the consequences of its actions, and we again urge
all parties to exercise maximum restraint at this time. This is
especially true at a moment when there is hope that an Israeli
withdrawal from Gaza will bring a new opportunity for progress toward
peace. All parties should focus on the positive, concrete steps needed
now to make the Gaza withdrawal successful.
###
|