March 08, 2008	Saturday	Safar 29, 1429

WASHINGTON, March 7: The White House on Friday denounced what it called “fairly disgusting” celebrations in Gaza of a deadly attack on a Jerusalem school and implicitly criticized moderate Arab nations’ silence.

“It was extremely disheartening to see people in the streets in Gaza and elsewhere celebrating such an attack. That is fairly disgusting, actually,” spokesman Tony Fratto told reporters one day after the bloody strike.

“This was a vicious attack, there is nothing that can explain away this kind of attack. But the most important thing is that the peace process continues and that the parties are committed to it,” the spokesman said.

Asked whether US President Bush was disappointed that the divided UN Security Council and moderate Arab nations had not denounced the attack, Fratto said he could not try to “explain” anyone’s failure to condemn it.

“All nations should condemn this attack; there is nothing to explain that an attack of this nature deserves anything less than condemnation,” said Fratto, who added it was “notable” that Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas had done so.

“I think the most important thing that the parties in the region are saying, you know, President Abbas and (Israeli) Prime Minister (Ehud) Olmert have made clear is that the peace process should continue,” said the spokesman.

“It takes an enormous amount, and maybe an inordinate amount, of courage and perseverance to continue this process and we think that these leaders have that,” Fratto said.—AFP