U.S.: There’s Not Much Abbas Can Do About Rocket Attacks

The U.S. State Department today condemned the rocket fire from Gaza, but also said that Palestinian Authority (PA) head Mahmoud Abbas cannot do much to stop the attacks, despite having signed a unity pact with Hamas.

“We condemn all rocket fire from Gaza. It is unprovoked aggression against civilian targets and is totally unacceptable,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters, speaking after a Kassam rocket fired by terrorists in Gaza exploded in the Eshkol Regional Council area, causing no physical injuries or damages. Psaki went on to say that Washington “welcomes” Abbas’s “prompt and outspoken condemnation of this attack”, but then added, “We acknowledge the reality that Hamas currently controls Gaza.”

“We believe that President Abbas must do all in his power to prevent deterioration in the security situation, but we would also note that he has upheld his responsibility to maintain security coordination with Israel and he has publicly stressed his commitment to do that. And so I think he has made every effort to be – continue to be a partner in this regard,” she added.

Abbas indeed condemned the rocket fire from Gaza, but not because of the threat to human or Israeli lives. Rather, he said, such attacks are a threat to the Hamas-Fatah unity pact and Palestinian Arab security. Read more at Arutz Sheva.

{Matzav.com Israel}