WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush on Friday branded the Hamas rocket attacks on Israel an "act of terror" and described his own condition of a cease-fire in Gaza, saying that no peace agreement without being acceptable to stop the flow monitoring smuggling of weapons to terrorist groups. Bush chose his weekly radio address recorded for the first time to talk about one of the bloodiest clashes in the Middle East decades. It began a week ago. Israeli warplanes have rained bombs on Gaza, targeting Palestinian militant groups Hamas, which has traumatized southern Israel with the escalation of rocket attacks.
"The United States is leading diplomatic efforts to achieve a cease-fire is fully respected," Bush said. "Another form of a ceasefire that leads to the rocket attacks on Israel is not acceptable. And the promises of Hamas is not enough - it must have monitoring mechanisms in place to help ensure that arms smuggling groups terrorists in Gaza comes to an end. "
Despite Bush's account of the U.S. a leadership role, with time running on his presidency, the administration seems increasingly ready on Friday that the crisis in Gaza in exchange for President-elect Barack Obama, who takes office Jan. 20.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice briefed Bush on the events in Gaza, and continued furious telephone diplomacy to arrange a truce. However, he said that he had no plans for a visit to the region.
More than 400 Palestinians and four Israelis have been killed in the latest offensive. The UN estimates that fourth Friday of the Palestinians killed were civilians. Decrease in its days in power, Bush and Rice have been working the phones with world allies.
Bush offered no criticism of Israel, which represents the country of air strikes in response to attacks on its people. The White House will not comment on whether the Israeli response as proportional or not the scope of rocket attacks on Israel.
"This recent outbreak of violence was instigated by Hamas - a Palestinian terrorist group supported by Iran and Syria calling for the destruction of Israel," Bush said.
The president said ultimately Hamas ended the last cease-fire on December 19 and "before unleashing a barrage of rockets and mortars that deliberately targeted innocent Israelis - an act of terror which opposes the leader legitimate Palestinian people, President (Mahmoud) Abbas. "
Deadline for Hamas in Gaza has been isolated from the rest of the world since the Islamic militants won parliamentary elections in 2006. Then Hamas violently took control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007, expelling forces loyal to Abbas, the moderate.
Bush expressed his deep concern for the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza. UN officials in Gaza say the 1.5 million inhabitants are facing an alarming situation under constant Israeli bombardment, with overcrowding in hospitals and fuel and food supplies are increasingly scarce.
"At the expense of its rocket launchers instead of roads and schools, has shown that Hamas has no intention of serving the Palestinian people," Bush said. "The United States has helped to provide tens of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid, and this week we have contributed an additional $ 85 million through the United Nations. We have asked everyone in the region to ensure that assistance reaches to those in need. "
The White House has said Israel must carefully take into account the number of its military attacks on civilians have. Again, Bush blamed Hamas for hiding among the civilian population. "Unfortunately, Palestinian civilians have been killed in recent days," he said.
International calls for a ceasefire have been increasing. Bush pledged to continue to participate with partners in the U.S. in the Middle East and Europe, and keep Obama. Obama receives the same intelligence reports that Bush is in Gaza.
Rice has spoken to both Obama and his choice for secretary of State, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, on the situation at least once in the last week. Obama and Clinton have remained mother in deference to Bush.
There have been increasing calls for Rice to intervene personally with Israel amid growing international concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. His decision to stay away is likely to disappoint those calling for a stronger U.S. role, particularly French President Nicolas Sarkozy intends to visit the region next week.
In recent days, U.S. officials Rice has said that a trip to the Middle East, as a first stop on a long visit to China next week, was under review. However, officials said Friday that Rice would stay in Washington. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement is not expected before the weekend.