Bush freeing Israeli troop key to ending crisis

WASHINGTON, July 1 (Reuters) US President George W Bush said today that freeing an Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian gunmen was key to ending the crisis in Gaza and should be the initial goal, the White House announced.

Bush, in a telephone conversation initiated by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, said ''the initial goal should be freeing the Israeli soldier. That is the key to ending the crisis,'' said White House National Security Council spokesman Frederick Jones.

Israeli forces entered the southern Gaza Strip this week as part of efforts to free the 19-year-old corporal, Gilad Shalit, seized in a cross-border raid last Sunday.

The United States privately has urged Israel to be careful over its military action, worried that tough moves in Gaza will boost Palestinian support for Hamas and further escalate tensions.

A senior State Department official said Thursday a firm message had been delivered to the Israelis, who have arrested Hamas Cabinet members and stepped up pressure to free Shalit.

Asked whether Erdogan shared Bush's view of the key to ending the crisis, Jones said he had no information on that.

''They agreed that the United States and Turkey would remain in contact about these matters,'' he said.

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