US President George W. Bush said today Israel had the right to defend itself against Hamas but urged the Israeli government to keep "the consequences in mind."
He said he hoped to send a US delegation to Israel next week - "if the circumstances on the ground allow" - in a bid to revive a stalled US-backed peace plan.
"Israel has the right to defend herself from terror, and, as she does so, I hope she keeps consequences in mind," President Bush said.
It was his first personal response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ahmed Yassin by Israeli forces on Monday. A White House spokesman has said Washington was "deeply troubled" by that killing.