Cheney: Israel didn't seek clearance or approval

January 4, 2008

AP's BEN FELLER

VP DICK CHENEY:

[Israel] didn't seek clearance or approval from us, certainly.

They have said, now, for a period of months — they told me on my last trip over there — that they didn't want to have to act, where Gaza was concerned. They had gotten out of there three years ago. But if the rocketing didn't stop, they felt they had no choice but to take action. And if they did, they would be very aggressive, in terms of trying to take down Hamas. And that's exactly what's happened.

HARRY REID:

I think what the Israelis are doing is very important. I think this terrorist organization, Hamas, has got to be put away. They've got to come to their senses.

MITCH MCCONNELL:

Hamas is a terrorist organization. Imagine in this country (the U.S.) if somebody from a neighboring country were lobbing shells at our population. We'd do exactly the same thing. I think the Israelis are doing the only thing they can possibly do to defend their population.