The presumptive presidential candidate of the US Republicans, Senator John McCain, has said that Israel's tough response to rocket fire from Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip was right and that there was no point in negotiating with Hamas. On a visit to the Middle East, including Israel, he also stopped in the town of Sderot which has been the target of thousands of Qassam rockets in recent years. "That is not a way for people to live," McCain said. "No nation in the world can be attacked incessantly and have its population killed and intimidated without responding. That's one of the first obligations of government, to provide security for its citizens."
McCain also supported Israel's claim to the city of Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state. "I support Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," McCain said in Jordan before heading to Israel.
McCain praised Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas as someone who was "committed to the peace process." But while he met personally with many Israeli leaders – including the prime minister, the president, the defense minister and the foreign minister – during his trip, he spoke with Abbas only by phone.
