Obama urges restraint

US President Barack Obama urged Israelis and Palestinians to restrain themselves and put an end to acts of retribution in the recent round of violence.

In an op-ed piece in an Israeli newspaper, Obama referred to the situation as a "dangerous moment". He lamented both the murder of three Israeli teenagers and the killing of a Palestinian boy in what many suspect was an act of revenge.

Obama praised Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as committed to peace and security.

The article was published as Israel launched an offensive in the Gaza Strip to quell rocket attacks threatening southern Israel. Obama said the US remains committed to peace despite the recent collapse of US-backed talks.

AP

(China Daily 07/09/2014 page12)