Rubio says Qatar strike 'not going to change' US-Israel ties / Photo: Nathan Howard - POOL/AFP
-
Kremlin denies three-way US-Ukraine-Russia talks in preparation
-
Williamson says 'series by series' call on New Zealand Test future
-
Taiwan police rule out 'terrorism' in metro stabbing
-
Australia falls silent, lights candles for Bondi Beach shooting victims
-
DR Congo's amputees bear scars of years of conflict
-
Venison butts beef off menus at UK venues
-
Cummins, Lyon doubts for Melbourne after 'hugely satsfying' Ashes
-
West Indies 43-0, need 419 more to win after Conway joins elite
-
'It sucks': Stokes vows England will bounce back after losing Ashes
-
Australia probes security services after Bondi Beach attack
-
West Indies need 462 to win after Conway's historic century
-
Thai border clashes displace over half a million in Cambodia
-
Australia beat England by 82 runs to win third Test and retain Ashes
-
China's rare earths El Dorado gives strategic edge
-
Japan footballer 'King Kazu' to play on at the age of 58
-
New Zealand's Conway joins elite club with century, double ton in same Test
-
Australian PM orders police, intelligence review after Bondi attack
-
Durant shines as Rockets avenge Nuggets loss
-
Pressure on Morocco to deliver as Africa Cup of Nations kicks off
-
Australia remove Smith as England still need 126 to keep Ashes alive
-
Myanmar mystics divine future after ill-augured election
-
From the Andes to Darfur: Colombians lured to Sudan's killing fields
-
Eagles win division as Commanders clash descends into brawl
-
US again seizes oil tanker off coast of Venezuela
-
New Zealand 35-0, lead by 190, after racing through West Indies tail
-
West Indies 420 all out to trail New Zealand by 155
-
Arteta tells leaders Arsenal to 'learn' while winning
-
Honour to match idol Ronaldo's Real Madrid calendar year goal record: Mbappe
-
Dupont helps Toulouse bounce back in Top 14 after turbulent week
-
Mbappe matches Ronaldo record as Real Madrid beat Sevilla
-
Gyokeres ends drought to gift Arsenal top spot for Christmas
-
Arsenal stay top despite Man City win, Liverpool beat nine-man Spurs
-
US intercepts oil tanker off coast of Venezuela
-
PSG cruise past fifth-tier Fontenay in French Cup
-
Isak injury leaves Slot counting cost of Liverpool win at Spurs
-
Juve beat Roma to close in on Serie A leaders Inter
-
US intercepts oil tanker off coast of Venezuela: US media
-
Zelensky says US must pile pressure on Russia to end war
-
Haaland sends Man City top, Liverpool beat nine-man Spurs
-
Epstein victims, lawmakers criticize partial release and redactions
-
Leverkusen beat Leipzig to move third in Bundesliga
-
Lakers guard Smart fined $35,000 for swearing at refs
-
Liverpool sink nine-man Spurs but Isak limps off after rare goal
-
Guardiola urges Man City to 'improve' after dispatching West Ham
-
Syria monitor says US strikes killed at least five IS members
-
Australia stops in silence for Bondi Beach shooting victims
-
Olympic champion Joseph helps Perpignan to first Top 14 win despite red card
-
Zelensky says US mooted direct Ukraine-Russia talks on ending war
-
Wheelchair user flies into space, a first
-
Brazil's Lula, Argentina's Milei clash over Venezuela at Mercosur summit
NYSE - LSE
Rubio says Qatar strike 'not going to change' US-Israel ties
The United States is "not happy" about Israeli strikes targeting Hamas in Qatar, but the attack will not change Washington's allied status with Israel, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday as he departed for the region.
Tuesday's air strikes -- the first by Israel against US ally Qatar -- have rocked the region and put huge strain on diplomatic efforts to bring about a truce in war-ravaged Gaza.
"What's happened has happened. Obviously, we were not happy about it, the president was not happy about it," Rubio told reporters shortly before departing Washington for discussions with officials in Israel.
"It's not going to change the nature of our relationship with the Israelis, but we are going to have to talk about it -- primarily, what impact does this have" on the truce efforts, Rubio added.
"We need to move forward and figure out what comes next, because at the end of the day, when all is said and done, there is still a group called Hamas, which is an evil group."
Israel targeted Hamas leaders gathering in Qatar to discuss a new ceasefire proposal put forward by US President Donald Trump's administration.
Trump has called Israel's attack unfortunate, chided Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and said the United States found out about the attack too late to stop it.
In addressing Rubio's visit, the State Department this week said only that the top US diplomat would discuss "operational goals and objectives" with Israel and show "the US commitment to Israeli security."
Rubio also confirmed he would take part in the inauguration of a new tunnel in Jerusalem's Old City for visitors approaching the Temple Mount, the holiest site for Jews, which is also sacred for Muslims as the Al-Aqsa compound.
"The city of David is separate. I intend to go to that," Rubio said.
The secretary of state's Israel trip is timed to occur barely a week before France leads a United Nations summit on September 22 at which a number of Western countries plan to recognize a Palestinian state centered around the West Bank.
France, exasperated over Israel's massive offensive in Gaza, has rejected US and Israeli criticism and says there must be a new path for the Palestinians.
E.Rodriguez--AT
