Day 14: breaking the Gaza silence
Updated on 07 January 2009
Barack Obama finally speaks out on the conflict, expressing "deep concern" about the loss of civilian life in Gaza and Israel.
The president-elect said "the loss of civilian life in Gaza and in Israel is a source of deep concern for me" and vowed to push for peace in the Middle East on taking office.
He told reporters he would adhere to his principle that only President Bush - who is pushing for a "durable, sustainable and not time-limited" ceasefire - would speak for American foreign policy at this time.
Obama meets his economic team
Although Obama's silence on the issue has attracted some criticism, he said he would have more to say after his inauguration.
"After 20 January I'm going to have plenty to say about the issue, and I am not backing away at all from what I said during the campaign, that starting at the beginning of our administration, we are going to be engaged effectively and consistently in trying to resolve the conflict in the Middle East," he said.
"That's something I am committed to."
Until then, he said, his job is to monitor the situation, and his aides are keeping him constantly up to date on developments.
On the domestic front, Obama said he expects to inherit a budget deficit approaching £1trn.
After meeting with his economic team, Obama said it was possible that trillion-dollar deficits could stretch into coming years and that he and his team want to instill a "sense of responsibility" about future budget choices.
He will ban the earmarking of funds for particular projects.
