US Calls Rocket Attacks on Israel, Jordan 'Deplorable'

AFP
August 2, 2010

http://www.jewishpolicycenter.org/1782/us-calls-rocket-attacks-on-israel-jordan

WASHINGTON — The United States on Monday called rocket attacks that hit Israel and Jordan "deplorable," and said the actions seemed designed to sabotage plans to revive direct Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.

State Department spokesman Philip Crowley condemned the attacks in which several rockets were fired at the Israeli resort of Eilat and Jordan's Aqaba port, apparently from Egypt's Sinai.

"This is a deplorable action," Crowley told reporters.

"At a point where we are hoping to see direct negotiations begin as soon as possible to address the core concerns, it's not surprising that you have others who are taking actions to try to inhibit that kind of progress."

"But... we continue our follow-on discussions with the parties. We hope to see them get in direct negotiations as soon as possible," Crowley said.

"But it's reprehensible that we, once again, see these indiscriminate firings of rockets at innocent civilians," he said.

He said the United States had "strong suspicions" about who was behind the attack but would not specify.

"There are... armed elements here that.... want to see the conflict continue. And they have used these tactics before. And we're not surprised that they're using them now," he added.

At least one person was killed and five wounded in Aqaba, but there were no casualties reported in Israel.

At least five blasts were heard in the morning, with one rocket exploding in open ground outside Eilat, two crashing into the Red Sea and the rest hitting Jordan, Israeli police said.

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