Obama: Silence on Gaza not lack of concern

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama Wednesday said the world should not interpret his lack of comment on the Gaza situation as lack of concern.

During a Washington news conference to introduce Nancy Killefer as his choice for the nation's first chief performance officer, Obama said in response to a question he's not "legally authorized" to get involved in foreign policy until he takes over the presidency.

"We can't have two administrations running foreign policy at the same time," Obama said, adding that both he and his national security team are up to speed on the situation.

It would not be safe for Americans, he said, for him to make any independent moves.

"I can't control how people interpret what I'm saying other than to repeat what I have said," Obama said, citing institutional constraints. "The silence is not a consequence of a lack of concerns."