Face in the News: Top leaders weigh in on a world in crisis
WASHINGTON (CBS News) - Crises in Israel and Ukraine worsened this week, and leaders from all sides of the conflicts weighed in Sunday on "Face The Nation.
After a series of brief and ultimately unsuccessful cease-fires, fighting in the Gaza Strip between Israeli troops and Hamas militants continued over the weekend. The Palestinian death toll has topped 1,000 -many are civilians -- and international pressure is mounting for a lasting cease-fire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu squarely blamed Hamas for resumed fighting.
"Israel is not obliged and will not let a terrorist organization, a ruthless terror organization, committed to our destruction, to decide when it's convenient for them to stop for a moment, rearm, and continue firing on our citizens and our people," Netanyahu told "Face The Nation" host Bob Schieffer.
Netanyahu's comments were covered by the Associated Press, AFP, the Los Angeles Times, the International Business Times, Bloomberg, Time, National Review, NPR, The Guardian, MSNBC, as well as Israel-based outlets Haaretz, the Jerusalem Post and The Times of Israel.
"Face The Nation" also on Sunday aired excerpts of CBS This Morning Co-Host Charlie Rose's exclusive interview with Hamas leader Khaled Mashal. The leader, speaking in Qatar, said he is "ready to coexist" with other religions but said he "does not want to live with a state of occupiers," referring to Israel.
That interview was covered by AFP, The Wall Street Journal and the Jerusalem Post.
Later in the program, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, pointed the finger at Iran for providing Hamas with missiles it uses to attack Israel. His comments on this, and the emerging cyber conflict, were covered by Politico, The Hill and the Washington Free Beacon.
The Middle East isn't the only region in tumult: The conflict between the Ukrainian government and Russian-backed separatists in the country's eastern region is intensifying. Sunday on "Face The Nation," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said leaders in Kiev would not talk directly with the "terrorists" but would support a bilateral cease-fire. This was picked up by USA Today and The Fiscal Times.
Former Secretary State Madeleine Albright also weighed in on the two crises. The former Clinton administration official summed up her thoughts on the international state of affairs with a simple. yet accurate, phrase.
"To put it mildly: the world is a mess," Albright said.
Her blunt analysis was picked up by National Review, Politico, The Hill, the New York Daily News, the Washington Times, MSNBC, the Huffington Post, and the Kansas City Star.