Palestinians mourners cry during the funeral of Salem Paul Sweliem in Gaza City on Nov. 20, 2012. According to the family, the 52-year-old Greek Orthodox Christian carpenter was killed during an Israel Air Force strike on a high-rise building, in which Ramez Harb, a senior figure in Islamic Jihad's military wing, was killed. Sweliem was in car when the strike took place and died on his way to the hospital from shrapnel wounds. (Associated Press)
An Israeli soldier cleans ammunition as he sits on top of a tank in a staging area near the Gaza border in southern Israel on Nov. 20, 2012. Israeli aircraft battered the headquarters of the Islamic National Bank, which Gaza's Hamas leaders set up to sidestep international sanctions on their rule. (Associated Press)
A Palestinian mourner cries during the funeral of Salem Paul Sweliem in Gaza City on Nov. 20, 2012. According to the family, the 52-year-old Greek Orthodox Christian carpenter was killed during an Israel Air Force strike on a high-rise building, in which Ramez Harb, a senior figure in Islamic Jihad's military wing, was killed. Sweliem was in car when the strike took place and died on his way to the hospital from shrapnel wounds. (Associated Press)
Palestinians mourners cry during the funeral of Salem Paul Sweliem in Gaza City on Nov. 20, 2012. According to the family, the 52-year-old Greek Orthodox Christian carpenter was killed during an Israel Air Force strike on a high-rise building, in which Ramez Harb, a senior figure in Islamic Jihad's military wing, was killed. Sweliem was in car when the strike took place and died on his way to the hospital from shrapnel wounds. (Associated Press)
Palestinians pray during the funeral of Salem Paul Sweliem in Gaza City on Nov. 20, 2012. According to the family, the 52-year-old Greek Orthodox Christian carpenter was killed during an Israel Air Force strike on a high-rise building, in which Ramez Harb, a senior figure in Islamic Jihad's military wing, was killed. Sweliem was in car when the strike took place and died on his way to the hospital from shrapnel wounds. (Associated Press)
Smoke trails are seen after ordnance was fired Nov. 20, 2012, by Palestinian militants from Gaza towards southern Israel, east of Bureij Refugee Camp in central Gaza Strip. (Associated Press)
An Israeli woman reacts Nov. 20, 2012, after her house in Beersheba, Israel, was hit by a rocket fired by militants from Gaza Strip. (Associated Press)
A Palestinian boy stands Nov. 20, 2012, in the rubble left after an Israeli strike on a house in Gaza City. (Associated Press)
An Israeli soldier stands atop a military vehicle as the sun rises in a staging area near the Gaza border in southern Israel on Nov. 20, 2012. Israeli aircraft battered the headquarters of the Islamic National Bank, which Gaza's Hamas leaders set up to sidestep international sanctions on their rule. (Associated Press)
Palestinian mourners carry the bodies of Foud Hijazi, 45, and his sons Suhaib, 2, and Mohammed, 4, all of whom were killed in an Israeli strike, during their funeral in the Jebaliya refugee camp in Gaza Strip on Nov. 20, 2012. (Associated Press)
Palestinian children stand in the rubble left after an Israeli strike on a house in Gaza City on Nov. 20, 2012. (Associated Press)
Israeli soldiers read from a holy book as they pray in a staging area near the Gaza border in southern Israel on Nov. 20, 2012. Israeli aircraft battered the headquarters of the Islamic National Bank, which Gaza's Hamas leaders set up to sidestep international sanctions on their rule. (Associated Press)
President Obama (second from left) speaks as he meets with Japan’s Prime ... more >The White House sent Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to Jerusalem, Ramallah and Cairo Tuesday in an effort to quell the violent clashes between Israel and Hamas.
The decision was made after a discussion between President Obama and Mrs. Clinton while both were still in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, for a summit with leaders of Southeast Asian nations.
“Her visits will build on the engagement that we’ve undertaken over the last several days … to support a de-escalation of the violence and a durable outcome that ends the rocket attacks on Israeli cities and restores a broader calm in the region,” said Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser.
Mrs. Clinton landed in Israel late Tuesday and headed to Jerusalem for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid mixed signs about the prospects of a cease-fire. Her mission comes on the sixth day of escalated conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza.
Clinton, speaking alongside Mr. Netanyahu on Tuesday, said “the goal must be a durable outcome that promotes regional stability and advances the security and legitimate aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians alike,” the Associated Press reported.
Both sides are continuing to barrage one each other with airstrikes and rockets — with an Israeli warplane killing at at least one senior Palestinian militant and wounding others in a missile strike on a building in Gaza, and Hamas firing 75 rockets into Israel with one hitting an empty school. Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system shot down 20 of the rockets, and there were reportedly no injuries related to the others.
Also on Tuesday, a suspect wielding a knife and an ax reportedly attacked a security guard at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and has been detained.
Mr. Obama spoke by phone with Mr. Netanyahu and twice to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi Monday night, the White House said.
“We commend Egypt’s efforts to de-escalate the situation and are hopeful they will be successful,” Mr. Rhodes told reporters traveling with Mr. Obama Tuesday.
He said Mrs. Clinton will underscore the United States’ interests in a peaceful outcome that protects and enhances Israel’s security.
“The best way to settle this is through diplomacy,” Mr. Rhodes said.
The violence between Israel and Hamas began last week after a dramatic increase in rocket fire from Gaza prompted Mr. Netanyahu’s decision to ramp up its response. Israeli air assaults have killed Hamas‘ military chief and have targeted militants’ underground rocket launchers and weapons arsenals.
The attacks escalated over the weekend and by Tuesday, civilians have accounted for 54 of the 113 Palestinians killed while 840 people have been wounded, including 225 children, according to Gaza health officials.
The Israeli’s rocket-defense system developed through U.S. funding has kept the toll down on the Israeli side. More than 1,000 rockets have been fired at Israel this week with three civilians killed and dozens wounded. The rockets have hit three Israel schools, emptied because of the attacks.
• This article is based in part on wire service reports.
© Copyright 2013 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.
Susan Crabtree is an award-winning investigative reporter with more than 15 years of reporting experience in Washington, D.C. Her reporting about bribery, corruption and conflict-of-interest issues on Capitol Hill has led to several FBI and ethics investigations, as well as consequences for members within their caucuses and at the ballot box. Susan can be reached at scrabtree@washingtontimes.com.
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