JERUSALEM, March 24, 2011 (WAFA) – The United States and the European Union Wednesday issued statements of condemnation of the explosion in West Jerusalem earlier in the day that left one person dead and about 30 injured.

At the same time, they expressed mere condolences for the families and regrets for the Israeli army killing of 10 Palestinians, some of them children, and injury of many others, in the last few days.

US President Barack Obama said in a statement that he 'condemn(s) in the strongest possible terms”  the Jerusalem explosion, “as well as the rockets and mortars fired from Gaza in recent days,” stressing that “Israel, like all nations, has a right to self-defense.”

He expressed his “deepest condolences for the deaths of Palestinian civilians in Gaza,” and stressed “the importance of calm” urging “all parties to do everything in their power to prevent further violence and civilian casualties.”

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she “was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the bombing in Jerusalem.”

 Israel, she said, “has to respond when this occurs,” adding that “we strongly condemn this violence,” and “strongly condemn recent rocket attacks from Gaza against innocent Israeli civilians and hold fully responsible the militants perpetrating these attacks.”

Clinton said that she joins “President Obama in extending our sincere condolences to the friends and families of the Palestinian civilians killed in Gaza yesterday and appreciate that Israel has expressed regret.

European Union High Representative of Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, also said that she “condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Jerusalem.”

At the same time, Ashton said she “deeply regret(s)” the “loss of life in Gaza and express my most serious concern at the escalating violence in the Strip.”

She also said “I condemn the recent mortar and rocket attacks out of the Gaza strip against Israeli civilian population.”

M.A.