Hamas military leader Ahmed Jabari was responsible for many Palestinian attacks
against Israel from Gaza, President Shimon Peres told his American counterpart
Barack Obama on Wednesday.
They spoke by phone half an hour after the IDF
killed Jabari.
Peres gave Obama background on the Hamas leader and
described how hard it had been for residents of southern Israel to endure five
days of rocket attacks.
Jabari “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 and children
cannot sleep at night,” Peres said.
“I visited Sderot this morning and
saw with my own eyes the pain of these mothers and children, and the difficulty
the South is facing. You know, there are limits. So I want you to know and I
wanted to explain our motives,” he said.
Separately, he congratulated
Obama on securing another four years in the White House.
“Your election
is a great message for the entire world and for Israel. You are the best
representative today of the future, looking ahead and doing it with a full
heart,” Peres said.
He wished Obama success in his second term, and
added, “I’m sure you’ll do it in the greatest way, this great mission.”
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