WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is applauding US President Barack Obama's condemnation of Tuesday's killing by a Palestinian gunman of four Israelis traveling near the West Bank city of Hebron.Netanyahu said the killings were carried out by people who do not respect human life and who "trample human rights into the dust and butcher everything they oppose."
Hamas claimed responsibility for the killings. Hamas rejects Israel's right to exist and opposes peace talks.
Netanyahu commented after meeting with Obama at the White House on Wednesday. Obama opened the latest round of Mideast peacemaking by bringing the Israeli and Palestinian leaders together for talks in Washington.