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Rice, Israeli FM discuss Israeli decision of defining Gaza as “hostile
entity”
2007-09-20 00:41:16
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-09/20/content_6756959.htm

JERUSALEM, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) – Visiting U.S. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice met with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on
Wednesday, the two discussed Israel’s decision that defined the Hamas-
controlled Gaza Strip as a “hostile entity.”

At a joint press conference held after their meeting, Rice told the
reporters that the Palestinian Hamas is a “hostile entity” to U.S. as well.

Israel’s Security Cabinet declared the Gaza Strip a “hostile entity” on
Wednesday ahead of Rice’s visit and said it would cutoff power and fuel
supplies to the strip.

Gaza’s population, largely impoverished, is almost entirely
dependent on Israel for the supply of electricity, water and fuel, and a
cutoff would deepen their hardship.

Since the Hamas takeover in June, Israel has closed crossings with
Gaza almost entirely, allowing in only humanitarian aid. However, Rice
reiterated that the United States will not abandon the innocent
Palestinians in Gaza.

For her part, Livni said that Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip
two years ago, hoping that could lead to the establishment of a
Palestinian state, but only get almost daily rocket attacks in return.

“We expect the Palestinians to understand that Israeli security is
in their own interests,” Livni said, adding that Palestinians must
understand “supporting Hamas won’t help them.”

The Israeli Security Cabinet’s declaration of Gaza as an “hostile
entity” could lead to the most severe retaliatory measure taken by
Israel against Palestinian rocket fire from the strip.

The crude rocket attacks have killed 12 people in southern Israel in
the past seven years, injured dozens more and badly disrupted daily life
in the region.

Last week, a Qassam rocket hit an Israeli military base near the
Gaza Strip, wounding over 60 soldiers in the attack. The attack then
sparked calls for the government to take harsh response against the Gaza
Strip, which has been under the control of Hamas since it violently took
over the enclave in mid June.

The Jewish states has been holding Hamas responsible for the attack,
although the movement has not been directly involved in the attacks.
Israel still accused the Islamic movement of doing little to halt them.

Apart from the Palestinian issue, Rice also discussed with Livni
issues about Iran, Lebanon and the Middle East peace progress.

She said Israel and the Palestinians are showing good faith in their
negotiations towards a “two state solution.”

Regarding Iranian issues, Rice told reporters that diplomatic mean
is a part of efforts to halt the Iranian nuclear program, but stressed
it “has to have teeth.”

Rice, who had visited this region in August, is also expected to
hold separate meetings on Wednesday with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud
Barak and the Likud party head Binyamin Netanyahu.

She will then hold a dinner meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert.

Rice is scheduled to leave here Thursday afternoon and visit the
West Bank city of Ramallah for meetings with the Palestinian leadership
on Thursday.