U.S. rushes warships to Israel

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
11/20/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Ships on stand-by to evacuate Americans.

The U.S. has sent warships to stand by off the coast of Israel, should Americans need to evacuate the region. Despite this move, officials say there is only a small chance they will be needed for an evacuation.

The USS Iwo Jima is now stationed of the coast of Israel, waiting to evacuate Americans if needed.

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TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (Catholic Online) - Although the latest reports suggest the conflict in Gaza could be winding down, amid intense truce negotiations, the U.S. is taking no chances with the safety of its citizens, moving warships to help evacuate them if needed.

Officials stress they think the possibility is remote, however they describe the move as "due diligence."

They also stressed the ships were not intended for any combat role and that the U.S. would not enter the hostilities in any capacity.

The ships sent to Israel are the USS Iwo Jima, the USS New York, and the USS Gunston Hall. The ships were outside of the Mediterranean last week, but as hostilities began between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza strip, an order was given to send the ships back toward Israel.

This was bad news for the 2,500 sailors and families involved, who had previously planned to return just after Thanksgiving. Now their plans are on hold as the conflict resolves itself.

The U.S. Navy maintains a strategic presence in the Mediterranean and keeps ships ready in the event of crisis. For several months, a small U.S. fleet has taken up station off the coast of Israel to help protect the country from a possible ballistic missile attack from Iran.

Truce negotiations are under way and both sides are being pressured to halt the conflict. The current spat began when Israel targeted and killed the overall military commander for Hamas, prompting retaliation. Hamas has since fired hundreds of rockets into Israel, and Israel has responded with a sweeping series of airstrikes designed to neutralize Hamas rocket capability.

Scores of civilians, particularly in Gaza, have been killed by the strikes.

� 2012, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Israel, Gaza, Palestine, Palestinian, Egypt, Navy, ships, Iwo Jima

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1 - 3 of 3 Comments

Robert Burford
5 months ago
War is not the answer prayer is. God is against inhuman treatment of all His creation. Genesis 12: 3 is one of my favorite passages. It means we have to stand up for Israel when they are in the right as in this circumstance but in the future it does not mean that we support them when they are in the wrong by seizing land and homes and building settlements in the disputed territories. It is not as simple as blessing those that bless you. We also have a duty to love one another. Don't put your faith in earthly princes and I do not put my faith in any one country to do the right thing all the time. That is simply not right and not what scripture says. How do you treat your neighbor?
Cherie
5 months ago
I agree with Sam who posted. Israel has a right to defend herself. Do NOT repeat the HUGE historical mistake the Church made of siding against Israel. Refer to Genesis 12:3 "And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."
Sam
6 months ago
Please provide accurate information. The "spat" began when rockets were continually fired into Israel from Gaza by Hamas. Israel has a right to defend herself and we are behind her.

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