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Gaza Militants Fire Rockets Before Obama Meets Abbas Obama Renews Call for 2-State Solution in Middle East
(35 minutes later)
JERUSALEM – On the second day of President Obama’s visit to Israel, Palestinian militants fired at least two rockets from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip that crashed into the Israeli border city of Sderot on Thursday, causing no damage or injury, according to the police, but breaking a cease-fire that ended eight days of fierce cross-border fighting in November. RAMALLAH, West Bank — Hours after Palestinian militants fired at least two rockets from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip that crashed into the Israeli border city of Sderot on Thursday, President Obama traveled to the West Bank city of Ramallah and renewed his call for a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians, saying that continued Israeli settlement-building did not advance the cause of peace.
Hours before Mr. Obama visited the West Bank for a meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority and the secularist Fatah movement that rivals Hamas, Israel cast the attack as a touchstone of Palestinian intentions toward a resumption of stalled peace efforts. But, at a news conference with President Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinian Authority and the secularist Fatah movement that rivals Hamas, Mr. Obama did not specifically call for a halt in settlement construction and urged both sides to press for a broad agreement that would meet two objectives: to provide sovereignty and a state for Palestinians and security for Israel.
After meeting Mr. Abbas, Mr. Obama said Palestinians deserved an end to occupation and an end to the “daily indignities that come with it.” “The core issue right now is how do we get sovereignty for the Palestinian people and security for Israeli people,” he said after almost two hours of talks with Abbas.
He added: “That’s not to say settlements aren’t important. That’s to say if we solve those two problems, the settlement issue will be resolved.”
Mr. Obama traveled to Ramallah after talks on Wednesday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on the first day of his visit.
“I’ve been clear with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli leadership,” Mr. Obama said. “We do not consider continued settlement activity to be constructive, to be appropriate, to be something that can advance the cause of peace.”
Mr. Obama said Palestinians deserved an end to occupation and to the “daily indignities that come with it,” and a “future of hope.”
In short, he said, “Palestinians deserve a state of their own.”In short, he said, “Palestinians deserve a state of their own.”
President Obama called for a two-state solution and said “the only way to achieve that is through direct negotiations” between Israelis and Palestinians. “There’s no short cut to a sustainable solution.”President Obama called for a two-state solution and said “the only way to achieve that is through direct negotiations” between Israelis and Palestinians. “There’s no short cut to a sustainable solution.”
“We cannot give up on the search for peace now matter how hard it is,” he said. “We cannot give up on the search for peace now matter how hard it is,” he said. He warned that a solution based on the creation of two states, side by side, for Israelis and Palestinians, was “still possible but very difficult.”
Mr. Obama condemned the rocket barrage from Gaza.Mr. Obama condemned the rocket barrage from Gaza.
One of the rockets on Thursday landed in the courtyard of a house and another was discovered in an open area of the city, according to Micky Rosenfeld, a police spokesman. They did not cause injuries or damage, he said. An alert system had sounded as the rockets came in.
Hamas won Palestinian elections in 2006 in Gaza and then seized control of the enclave a year later, routing Fatah forces there. Though the two sides have signed several accords aimed at ending the Palestinian schism, Hamas remains entrenched in Gaza while Mr. Abbas’s authority is confined to parts of the West Bank.Hamas won Palestinian elections in 2006 in Gaza and then seized control of the enclave a year later, routing Fatah forces there. Though the two sides have signed several accords aimed at ending the Palestinian schism, Hamas remains entrenched in Gaza while Mr. Abbas’s authority is confined to parts of the West Bank.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has been calling for a resumption of peace talks with Mr. Abbas, without preconditions, but has warned in the past that any practical reconciliation between Mr. Abbas and Hamas would stymie progress with Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu has been calling for a resumption of peace talks with Mr. Abbas, without preconditions, but has warned in the past that any practical reconciliation between Mr. Abbas and Hamas would stymie progress with Israel.
One of the rockets on Thursday landed in the courtyard of a house and another was discovered in an open area of the city, according to Micky Rosenfeld, a police spokesman. An alert system had sounded as the rockets came in.
Witnesses in Gaza said that militants had fired at least five rockets from the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun at around 7.30 a.m. Some apparently fell short or were not immediately located by the Israelis.Witnesses in Gaza said that militants had fired at least five rockets from the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun at around 7.30 a.m. Some apparently fell short or were not immediately located by the Israelis.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility by any of the Palestinian groups in Gaza.There was no immediate claim of responsibility by any of the Palestinian groups in Gaza.
These were the first rockets to land in a built-up area since November. A single rocket was fired by Gaza militants in late February and landed harmlessly on a road outside the city of Ashkelon. That was apparently a response to the death of a Palestinian prisoner in disputed circumstances in an Israeli jail. Israel temporarily closed a commercial goods crossing into Gaza in response.These were the first rockets to land in a built-up area since November. A single rocket was fired by Gaza militants in late February and landed harmlessly on a road outside the city of Ashkelon. That was apparently a response to the death of a Palestinian prisoner in disputed circumstances in an Israeli jail. Israel temporarily closed a commercial goods crossing into Gaza in response.
Israel has violated the cease-fire several times by firing on Gaza fishermen and farmers approaching newly relaxed security perimeters, but the agreement has otherwise held.Israel has violated the cease-fire several times by firing on Gaza fishermen and farmers approaching newly relaxed security perimeters, but the agreement has otherwise held.
The coastal enclave of Gaza is controlled by the Islamic militant group Hamas. While several other militant groups there have the capability to fire rockets into Israel, Hamas has in recent months demonstrated its ability to enforce the cease-fire, leading many Israeli analysts to conclude that the other groups would not fire without Hamas’s assent.The coastal enclave of Gaza is controlled by the Islamic militant group Hamas. While several other militant groups there have the capability to fire rockets into Israel, Hamas has in recent months demonstrated its ability to enforce the cease-fire, leading many Israeli analysts to conclude that the other groups would not fire without Hamas’s assent.
Salah al-Bardawil, a Hamas official in Gaza, said in a telephone interview that Hamas was not aware of any rocket attacks and was checking the Israeli reports. He called for Israel to lift all remaining restrictions on Gaza and for a mutual commitment to the cease-fire.Salah al-Bardawil, a Hamas official in Gaza, said in a telephone interview that Hamas was not aware of any rocket attacks and was checking the Israeli reports. He called for Israel to lift all remaining restrictions on Gaza and for a mutual commitment to the cease-fire.
Mr. Bardawil added that in November, President Obama had given Israel a “green light to destroy Gaza.” Mr. Obama “speaks in the language of Israel,” Mr. Bardawil said, “talking about Israel’s security and not about the Palestinian people’s right to live.”Mr. Bardawil added that in November, President Obama had given Israel a “green light to destroy Gaza.” Mr. Obama “speaks in the language of Israel,” Mr. Bardawil said, “talking about Israel’s security and not about the Palestinian people’s right to live.”
Hamas, which rejects Israel’s right to exist, is classified as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Israel.Hamas, which rejects Israel’s right to exist, is classified as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Israel.
Mr. Obama visited Sderot as a candidate in 2008. Because the town is so close to the Gaza border, Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, which Mr. Obama inspected on Wednesday when he landed in Tel Aviv, cannot be deployed there.Mr. Obama visited Sderot as a candidate in 2008. Because the town is so close to the Gaza border, Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, which Mr. Obama inspected on Wednesday when he landed in Tel Aviv, cannot be deployed there.
After the rocket fire on Thursday, a senior Israeli official said, “We will be watching very closely today to see if President Abbas condemns this rocket attack against Israeli civilians. Last year in the face of similar attacks he refused to condemn these acts by terrorists in Gaza.”After the rocket fire on Thursday, a senior Israeli official said, “We will be watching very closely today to see if President Abbas condemns this rocket attack against Israeli civilians. Last year in the face of similar attacks he refused to condemn these acts by terrorists in Gaza.”
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the delicate diplomatic situation, added, “We will also be watching closely to see if President Abbas will cease his unity talks with Hamas. These rockets this morning were launched from territory controlled by Hamas, an organization that totally opposes peace and reconciliation with Israel.”The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the delicate diplomatic situation, added, “We will also be watching closely to see if President Abbas will cease his unity talks with Hamas. These rockets this morning were launched from territory controlled by Hamas, an organization that totally opposes peace and reconciliation with Israel.”
According to Army Radio, Israel’s foreign ministry has instructed its ambassadors around the world to emphasize to the media that Israel is seeking peace while the Palestinians fire rockets.According to Army Radio, Israel’s foreign ministry has instructed its ambassadors around the world to emphasize to the media that Israel is seeking peace while the Palestinians fire rockets.
“Let Obama come and see how people live,” Sara Haziza, whose yard in Sderot was the site where one of the rockets exploded Thursday morning, said on Army Radio. “We build houses and villas but we live inside a cage, in a protected room.”“Let Obama come and see how people live,” Sara Haziza, whose yard in Sderot was the site where one of the rockets exploded Thursday morning, said on Army Radio. “We build houses and villas but we live inside a cage, in a protected room.”
“Let Obama come and see how an eight-year-old girl has to run to a protected room that is completely open,” she added, “and how I can’t close the door of the protected room.”“Let Obama come and see how an eight-year-old girl has to run to a protected room that is completely open,” she added, “and how I can’t close the door of the protected room.”

Isabel Kershner reported from Jerusalem, and Fares Akram from Gaza. Jodi Rudoren contributed reporting from Jerusalem.

Mark Landler reported from Ramallah and Alan Cowell from Paris. Isabel Kershner and Jodi Rudoren contributing reporting from Jerusalem, and Fares Akram from Gaza.