Obama praises Egypt's cease-fire plan for Israel
None
WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama praised Egypt's proposal Monday for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, telling Muslim-Americans that he's hopeful that the plan can restore calm in the wake of a deadly wave of violence.
"We're going to continue to do everything we can to facilitate a return to the 2012 cease-fire," Obama said at a White House dinner celebrating the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
At the same time, Obama said the US has been "very clear that Israel has the right to defend itself" against an onslaught of rockets being launched indiscriminately by militants from Gaza into Israel. He also lamented the death and injury of Palestinian civilians in Gaza during Israel's military response to quell the rockets, urging that civilians be protected and warning against further escalation by either side.
