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- Written by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Remarks
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Before Their Meeting
Prime Minister’s Office
Jerusalem
PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: I want to welcome Secretary Clinton once again to Jerusalem. I want to thank President Obama, you, and the American Government and people for their strong support for Israel in this hour of need. I want to also thank you especially for your support of Iron Dome that’s been saving lives, and we are in a battle to save lives.
One of the things that we’re doing is trying to resist and counter a terrorist barrage which is aimed directly at our civilians, and doing so by minimizing civilian casualties, whereas the terrorist enemies of Israel are doing everything in their power to maximize the number of civilian casualties. Obviously, no country can tolerate a wanton attack on its civilians.
Now, if there is a possibility of achieving a long-term solution to this problem through diplomatic means, we prefer that. But if not, I am sure you understand that Israel will have to take whatever action is necessary to defend its people. This is something that I don’t have to explain to Americans. I know that President Obama, you, and the American people understand that perfectly well.
And I thank you once again for your support. Welcome to Jerusalem.
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"There is no room for comparison between Israel and Hamas"
Secretary General Ban to President Peres:
Our paramount and immediate concern is for the safety and wellbeing of all civilians in Israel and in Gaza
The President of the State of Israel, President Shimon Peres, met with the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon this evening at his residence in Jerusalem. The Secretary General is conducting a series of meetings with regional leaders in light of the current security situation. President Peres thanked the Secretary General for coming and said, "Mr. Secretary General, thank you for coming. Your contribution as a heavyweight is appreciated and can help to bring calm to the situation."
President Peres stressed that, "The problem is not just the height of the flames but who starts them and who can end them. There is no room for comparison between Israel and Hamas. Unfortunately they target civilians, we protect them. They hide amongst their civilian population, we are extremely careful to avoid hitting all civilians. Our army is working hard to avoid harming civilians. Israel left Gaza willingly and totally. Nobody forced us. Hamas is the only one responsible for the suffering in Gaza. Hamas can put an end to it. They can bring calm to their people when they stop shooting. Israel did not start this situation but Israel, like any other country, cannot allow her citizens to become a target. It is against the charter of the UN and basic human responsibility. They are targeting our children on their way to school. Most of the missiles are fired between 07:00 and 08:00, around 35 every day, when the children are on the way to school. They then start again between 13:00 and 14:00 in the afternoon, when another 35 rockets a day are fired at the children on their way home."
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President Peres to Mr. Tony Blair:
I want to thank you for the widespread international support
Mr. Tony Blair to President Peres
I very much hope that over the coming days we can achieve a cessation on a basis that is sustainable
The President of the State of Israel, President Shimon Peres, conducted a work meeting with the Special Envoy of the Quartet, Mr. Tony Blair. The two delivered joint statements and held a private meeting. At the start of the meeting President Peres said, "I wish to thank you for the clear support the international community is giving Israel to defend herself against the missiles, against the targeting of our civilians. I want to thank the Quartet and you personally."
President Peres stressed that the aim of the operation was the cessation of rocket fire against the south, "We have no interest and no ambition in conquering land but we have to stop the firing at our citizens. You clearly understand what it means when mothers can't sleep at night." On Egypt's involvement President Peres said, "The attempt by President Morsi is appreciated. Egypt is a significant player in the Middle East, strangely it is Hamas that doesn't listen to the Egyptian President."
President Peres addressed the Iranian issue and said, "Iran is putting tremendous pressure on them, supplying them with arms, training them and sending them money. There is a confrontation between the Iranians who want to continue Hamas' belligerence and many of the Arab countries that want to put an end to it."
Mr. Tony Blair thanked President Peres and said that he hoped that in the coming days a ceasefire will be achieved which will stop the rocket fire from Gaza to the citizens of Israel and will help the people of Gaza who are also suffering. Blair added that Egypt, Qatar, America and the UN were all working for a ceasefire and said that he hoped that there could be constructive steps towards peace in the region. Blair added that another crisis, on top of the Iranian issue and the Syrian crisis, should be avoided.
This week President Peres will also conduct meetings with the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon and German Foreign Minister Mr. Guide Westerwelle, who are visiting the region.
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- Written by guy eliyahu
To All Publishers, Editors, Journalists and Media Personnel,
Re: The "Color Red" Smart Phone Application: Understanding the Citizens of Israel
I strongly urge all journalists and other members of the media to download the smart phone application, "Color Red", to your personal smart phones so that you can experience the situation that the citizens of Israel endure daily.
The app sends instant alerts of alarm/siren soundings, firings and ground impacts of rockets and mortar-bomb attacks directed at the residents of Israel in real time. The app will help illuminate the incomprehensible daily routine in Israel. It will send automatic alerts to your cell phone device just as thousands of Israelis experience it – thereby allowing you to understand what the children, women and elderly staying in shelters go through during rocket attacks.
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- Written by Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Ministry Spokesman
In the wake of Operation Pillar of Defense and the global media interest in events in the south, hundreds of journalists and television crews have arrived to cover events in Israel and the Gaza Strip. According to Government Press Office (GPO) data, as of yesterday (Sunday, 18 November 2012), approximately 500 foreign journalists have arrived at the GPO in order to receive the press credentials that allow them free access to the conflict zones. They join the approximately 1,400 journalists and crew members who are already in the region to cover Israel and the Middle East. Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Minister Yuli Edelstein has directed GPO Director Nitzan Chen to do what is necessary to receive the journalists quickly and efficiently, to hold press tours to the communities in the south that are under missile threat, and to provide them with information and data.
To these ends, the GPO has significantly extended its reception hours, received additional personnel and resources and held foreign press tours to the south, including to Barzilai Medical Center, in which journalists have been accompanied and briefed by Minister Edelstein.
