News Service from House Harris

MID: Gaza complicates Obama's policy in Mideast

CRAWFORD, Texas, Dec 29 AP - US president-elect Barack Obama's transition team is choosing its words carefully in dealing with Israel's assault on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The deaths of hundreds of Palestinians in Israel's deadly air assault on the militant Islamic group will further complicate Obama's challenge to achieve a Middle East peace - something that eluded both the Bush and Clinton administrations.

David Axelrod, senior adviser to Obama, is choosing his words carefully, saying the president-elect will honour the "important bond" between the United States and Israel.

"He wants to be a constructive force in helping to bring about the peace and security that both the Israelis and the Palestinians want and deserve," Axelrod said on CBS's Face the Nation. "Obviously, this situation has become even more complicated in the last couple of days and weeks. As Hamas began its shelling, Israel responded. But it's something that he's committed to."

Pressed about how much support Obama will offer Israel, Axelrod said: "He's going to work closely with the Israelis. They're a great ally of ours, the most important ally in the region ... But he will do so in a way that will promote the cause of peace, and work closely with the Israelis and the Palestinians on that - toward that objective."

The Bush administration has blamed the renewed violence on the militant Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, saying it broke a ceasefire by firing rockets and mortars deep into Israeli territory. The Arab world, however, has reacted with rage to the aggressive Israeli counterattacks, which have left 300 Palestinians dead and more than 600 wounded.

It's unclear whether Obama will be as supportive of Israel as President George W Bush has been.

Jon Alterman, head of the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, speculated that Israeli leaders synchronised their retaliatory attacks to political calendars in both Israel and the US. More moderate politicians running in the February 10 national election needed to appear strong against Hamas, and it was perhaps better to strike before Bush left office on January 20 because they weren't as sure what Obama's reaction would be.

"I think Obama will be supportive of Israel, but will bring a little more scepticism to it," Alterman said. "I think Obama will start from the premise that Israel is an ally, but that we have to look at this fresh."

Bush, who is staying at his Texas ranch, spoke on the phone with national security adviser Stephen Hadley to receive an update on the situation and was being kept abreast of developments throughout the day, said Gordon Johndroe, a presidential spokesman. He said Bush would receive an intelligence briefing via a secured video hookup at the ranch.

According to an aide on Obama's transition team, the president-elect, who is in Hawaii, continues to closely monitor global events, including the situation in Gaza. He had an intelligence briefing on Sunday and plans to talk with his incoming national security adviser, General James Jones, and his nominee for secretary of state, Hillary Clinton.