BICOM

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday updated several world leaders on Operation Protective Edge and told them that no country would tolerate the barrage of rockets being fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel.

According to Number 10, Prime Minister David Cameron telephoned Netanyahu to discuss the situation and “strongly condemned the appalling attacks being carried out by Hamas against Israeli civilians.” The statement continued, “The Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s staunch support for Israel in the face of such attacks, and underlined Israel’s right to defend itself from them.”

Netanyahu also spoke to US Secretary of State John Kerry. US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that Kerry reiterated Israel’s right to defend itself and called upon Netanyahu to restore quiet and to take steps to protect civilians. Netanyahu additionally spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and with French President Francois Hollande, who expressed identification with Israel in the face of rocket attack and said it was important to prevent an escalation.

Meanwhile, YNet reports that Netanyahu has approached the ultra-Orthodox opposition parties United Torah Judaism and Shas over joining an expanded government, possibly to solidify support for an expanded Gaza operation. Earlier this week, Yisrael Beitenu ended its partnership with Netanyahu’s Likud, complicating Netanyahu’s control of government. However, Shas leader Aryeh Deri released a statement saying “At this time, we see no need, and we will support the government from the outside.” The same report speculates that Netanyahu will also approach Labour Party leader Isaac Herzog. However, Herzog has repeatedly called on Yesh Atid and Hatnuah to leave the coalition.

Speaking in Ramallah, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas said that Operation Protective Edge is a war “against the entire Palestinian people.” Abbas went as far as accusing Israel of “genocide” in Gaza. Haaretz says that Abbas is considering applying for membership of the International Court of Justice. Meanwhile, Arab leaders have prompted a United Nations’ Security Council debate on the Gaza violence today.