President Barack Obama is talking to Middle East actors to avoid a repeat of a
recent Israeli attack on an aid flotilla to Gaza, according to a White House spokesman.

White House spokesman Bill Burton said Wednesday the
president remains committed to ensuring Israel’s security, but he is working to
avoid another incident like the weekend Israeli attack that left nine civilians
dead.

{mosads}”In terms of this incident, what’s most important to
the president is that events like the one that transpired a couple nights ago
don’t transpire again, that we’re protecting the security of Israel and that
we’re getting aid to the folks who need it in Gaza,” Burton said.

Those statements come as more aid ships are reportedly trying to get around the
Israeli blockade aimed at preventing weapons from reaching Hamas and
extremists.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a trip to the White House
to return to Israel, but Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas’ trip next week remains
on the president’s schedule.

Abbas has said since the incident that he wants to see Obama take a bold stance
toward Israel in light of the raid and subsequent outrage in the Muslim nation.

Thus far, the Obama administration has taken a measured stance in its response,
signing on to a United Nations Security Council resolution that condemns the
loss of life without condemning Israel and calling for an investigation into
the incident.

Burton said he is unaware of what a timeframe for that investigation might look
like.

When asked about Abbas’ call for bold action, Burton was noncommittal, saying
Obama “thinks it’s critically important that we move in the process
to find stability and security in that region.”

“I will say it’s important to the president and to our country that we
don’t see the same kind of events unfold like they did the last time,”
Obama said. “So we are talking to our partners and are hopeful that we
won’t see a repeat.”