Some surprisingly strong support from the Obama administration for Israel's right to respond to Hamas missile attacks. But Prime Minister Netanyahu declined President Obama's offer to mediate between the warring parties, saying a cease fire "wasn't even on the agenda." Jerusalem Post: The United States is prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, US President Barack Obama told Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu by phone today. In the call, Obama "reiterated the United States’ strong condemnation of continuing rocket fire into Israel by Hamas and other terrorist organizations in Gaza and reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself against these attacks," the White House said in a readout of the conversation. But Netanyahu has ruled out a ceasefire with Hamas in the short-term. On the contrary, the Israeli leader has vowed a series of additional stages to Operation Protective...(Read Full Post)