http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/212787-obama-golfing-with-staffers-in-vaJuly 20, 2014, 01:43 pm
Obama golfing with staffers in Virginia
By Kyle Balluck
President Obama is golfing on Sunday at Fort Belvoir, Va., according to a White House pool report.
The president flew to the base on Sunday afternoon from Camp David, where he spent Friday evening and Saturday.
An official said the president is playing with staffers Mike Brush, Joe Paulsen and Marvin Nicholson.
The White House said in a statement that Obama spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday morning to discuss Israel’s ongoing military operation in Gaza.
“The President discussed Israel’s ongoing military operation, reiterated the United States’ condemnation of attacks by Hamas against Israel, and reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself,” the White House said. “The President also raised serious concern about the growing number of casualties, including increasing Palestinian civilian deaths in Gaza and the loss of Israeli soldiers.”
Obama told Netanyahu that Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Egypt to try to broker a cease-fire.
The president stressed the need to protect civilians in Gaza and in Israel, the White House said.
Obama hit the links with ESPN basketball analyst Michael Wilbon and Boston Celtics part-owner Glenn Hutchins last Saturday.
Nicholson founded out the foursome, which played at TPC Potomac Golf Club, a championship course in Montgomery County, Md.
