US Senator McCain tours Sderot with Defence Minister Barak

United States Senator and Republican presidential candidate John McCain toured the southern Israeli town of Sderot with Defence Minister Ehud Barak yesterday. "No nation can afford not to respond when attacked or when its citizens are attacked," McCain said during his visit. The senator said he understands Israel's tough response to Palestinian rocket attacks and supports its right to respond. McCain was accompanied by Senator Joe Lieberman and toured the town and spoke to residents. He also complimented Barak for the work he was doing in combating terrorist activities. Defence Minister Barak said that Israel will continue to respond to all rocket attacks on Israel.

Earlier in the day, McCain met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. McCain agreed with Olmert that the situation in the south was intolerable, while PM Olmert told McCain that Israel will halt the rocket fire without a major ground incursion. "We will stop the Qassam fire by the creation of deterrence in the South which will make rocket launching cells think twice before they shoot again," Olmert said. The prime minister also stressed that Israel will continue the peace process talks while it combated terrorist activities.

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