U.S. Will Back Israel Should Jerusalem Decide on Ground Assault on Gaza

US Ambassador to Israel said on Israel’s Army Radio Friday morning that ‘no one wants a ground operation,’ but Washington backs Israel in any case.

By Ari Yashar

 

US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro spoke to Galei Tzahal (IDF Radio) on Friday morning, and committed America’s firm support for Israel if it decides to launch a ground offensive on the Hamas stronghold of Gaza.

The statement comes after the IDF on Thursday afternoon sent telephone warnings to 100,000 residents of Gaza, telling them to evacuate the area near the security border in an indication of an imminent ground entry.

“No one wants a ground operation, and we want that Hamas would stop sending the missiles and rockets. But in any case, Israel has full American backing,” said Shapiro on the “Good Morning Israel” radio show.

Just before Shapiro’s talk of full backing for a ground assault, US President Barack Obama called Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Thursday night and offered to broker a ceasefire with the terrorist organization Hamas.

“The president expressed concern about the risk of further escalation and emphasized the need for all sides to do everything they can to protect the lives of civilians and restore calm,” the White House said in a statement. “The United States remains prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities, including a return to the November 2012 ceasefire agreement.”

While the 2012 deal, brokered by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Egypt, ended the counter-terror Operation Pillar of Defense, Hamas did not keep to the ceasefire.

As of June, before the recent escalation, Gaza terrorists had already fired over 450 rockets at Israel since the start of 2014 according to the IDF.

Since Operation Protective Edge began on Monday, Gaza terrorists have fired well over 500 rockets and mortars, and the IDF has hit over 1,100 terror sites.

America has given mixed messages during the course of the operation, supporting Israel’s right to defend itself, even as US Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday night called Netanyahu after Gaza terrorists fired 80 rockets, and asked him to “show restraint.

 

View original Arutz Sheva publication at: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/182789#.U7_It7GLUYA