[No endorsement of any candidate is implied.] http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN02371520
March 3 (Reuters) -
ILLINOIS SEN. BARACK OBAMA, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE"You can't negotiate with somebody who does not recognize the right of a country to exist so I understand why Israel doesn't meet with Hamas. I do think it is important to us to try to jump-start the peace process. It has been under enormous strain of late."
NEW YORK SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE"Israel has the right to defend its citizens."I call on Hamas to stop this irresponsible aggression immediately, which would enable Israeli and Palestinian civilians to return to normal life."The Bush administration should have been taking a more active role in bringing international pressure on Hamas to stop its attacks."
ARIZONA SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE"I believe that any nation has the right to respond to attacks. We obviously want a cease-fire. We want negotiations."I would condemn Hamas and call on them to stop their attacks on Israel."
