A   A   A

Posted: Thursday, 21 March 2013 4:30AM

Gaza rockets hit southern Israel town cited by Obama



JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Two rockets fired from the Gaza Strip landed on Thursday in a southern Israeli border town that U.S. President Barack Obama mentioned in a speech on his arrival in Israel a day earlier.

Police said there were no casualties but some damage in the attack on Sderot near the Gaza frontier.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the strike, the second time rockets launched from Gaza have hit Israel since a truce ended an eight-day cross-border war in November.

As a presidential candidate in 2008, Obama visited Sderot, meeting locals and viewing an exhibit of rocket remnants from frequent attacks by Gaza-based militants.

"I've stood in Sderot, and met with children who simply want to grow up free from fear. And flying in today, I saw again how Israel's security can be measured in mere miles and minutes," Obama told a news conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

Obama is on a three-day visit to Israel, the occupied West Bank and Jordan. He will not travel to Gaza, which is ruled by Hamas, a group sworn to Israel's destruction.

The president was in Jerusalem, some 80 km (50 miles) from Sderot, when the rockets struck several hours before his visit to the West Bank city of Ramallah for talks with Hamas's rival, Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

"We condemn violence against civilians regardless of its source, including rocket firing," Abbas was quoted as saying by the official Palestinian Wafa news agency.

"We are in favor of maintaining mutual and comprehensive calm in Gaza," he added.

At Tel Aviv airport on Wednesday, Obama inspected an Iron Dome anti-missile battery, a partially U.S.-funded system that has been used to shoot down rockets fired from the Gaza Strip.

Story & Photos Copyright 2012 Reuters
Filed Under :  
Topics : PoliticsWar_Conflict
Social :
Locations : GazaGaza StripJerusalemRamallahSouthern IsraelWest Bank
People : Barack ObamaMahmoud Abbas

House lawmakers reach deal to revamp immigration


Prospects for passage of a major immigration bill has improved.

House votes to repeal Obamacare for 37th time


The Republican-controlled U.S. House voted to repeal Obamacare in a symbolic move.

Judge to hear insanity defense in theater shooting case


The judge who will hear the murder case against accused James Holmes has agreed to hear arguments.

Boston bombing suspect wrote message in boat


Accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev left a handwritten message.

Tornadoes rip through Texas, killing six


At least six people were killed when tornadoes ripped through a stretch of Texas.

As scandals mount, White House springs into damage control


With no sign of an end to three scandals, the White House launched a concerted effort at damage control.

Tax chief forced out in IRS scandal


Steven Miller resigned as the acting head of the Internal Revenue Service.

White House releases Benghazi attack emails


The White House released 100 pages of emails detailing discussion about deadly attacks in Benghazi.

Holder sidesteps lawmakers' questions on AP records seizure


Lawmakers pounded Attorney General Eric Holder with questions.

Accused Cleveland kidnapper plans to plead not guilty


The man charged with holding three women captive and raping them will plead not guilty.

Once a beacon, Obama under fire over civil liberties


Barack Obama has faced accusation after accusation of impinging on civil liberties.

FBI opens criminal probe of IRS


The FBI has opened a criminal probe over the IRS's targeting of conservative political groups.

Attorney General Holder recused himself from AP subpoena


The Attorney General said that he recused himself from the decision to secretly seize telephone records of the Associated Press.

Lower DUI limit to 0.05% blood-alcohol level, NTSB says


The top transportation safety agency voted to recommend a lower blood alcohol limit for drivers.

Russia says CIA agent caught trying to recruit spy


Russia said it had caught an American red-handed as he tried to recruit a Russian intelligence officer.