World reaction sharply critical of Israeli strike on Gaza apartment building

Associated Press ^ | 7-23-02 | PAUL GEITNER

[Oldeconomybuyer]

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- European, U.N. and Arab officials roundly condemned Israel's missile strike Tuesday that killed a wanted militant leader and 14 other Palestinians, most of them children, terming it unjustified, criminal and counterproductive.

While stressing there was no sympathy for Palestinian terrorists, leaders criticized Israel's "extra-judicial" killing of Salah Shehadeh, the top commander of a Hamas, the group that has claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks against Israelis.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

The F-16 air strike wasn't against an "apartment building" in Gaza, it was to kill the leader of Hamas who chose to hide with his family and other civilians.

[Semper Paratus]

An even barter trade is "World Opinion" for a bucket of warm spit.

[Travis McGee]

I wonder if the Euros would have hesitated to drop a bomb on Hitler's summer house because there might be children there?

Oh I forgot, half of Europe was goose stepping along with Adolf in that war.

[robjna]

not in my world

[Theophilus]

White House Calls Israeli Attack Heavy-Handed

Tue Jul 23,10:51 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a rare criticism of Israel, President Bush ( news - web sites) Tuesday denounced as "heavy-handed" an Israeli missile attack that killed more than a dozen Palestinian civilians along with a leader of the militant group Hamas.

Reuters Photo

"The president has said before Israel has to be mindful of the consequences of its actions to preserve the path to peace and the president believes this heavy-handed action does not contribute to peace," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer ( news - web sites) told reporters.

Bush has repeatedly defended Israel's right to defend itself as the Israelis launched incursions into Palestinian areas in an attempt to staunch Palestinian suicide bombings.

But for Bush, the missile attack went too far. Israel killed the commander of the military wing of Hamas, and 14 other Palestinians, including nine children, in an air raid on the commander's home.

A crowded city block was wiped out and at least 145 Palestinians were hurt in the overnight attack by an Israeli F-16 fighter jet.

The Israeli strike came as Bush attempts to encourage Palestinian reforms necessary to develop a Palestinian state within three years, which he called for in a June 24 speech.

Arab foreign ministers who met Bush at the White House last week welcomed the president's attitude and said they detected a U.S. commitment to work hard for a Palestinian state.

Fleischer said the U.S. message of displeasure would be conveyed to the Israeli government. The United States opposes Israel's policy of targeted assassinations.

"The president's concern here is there is loss of innocent lives. The president has been and will continue to be the first to defend Israel. In this case the president sees it differently," Fleischer said.

U.S. air raids in Afghanistan ( news - web sites) have killed civilians in the search for leaders of Osama bin Laden ( news - web sites)'s al Qaeda network and the ousted Taliban. But Fleischer said the killing of civilians by U.S. fire has always been accidental.

"This was a deliberate attack on this site, knowing that innocents would be lost as a consequence of this attack," Fleischer said.

The same could be said of Hiroshima or Dresden. Perhaps we should start calling the White House: The Whited Sepulchre!!!

[1bigdictator]

Ohhh... The E.U. and U.N. are critical of Israel for responding to the unrelenting massacre of its civilians... I guess Israel forgot to observe the DOUBLE STANDARD. Silly Jews, stop protesting and go to your deaths silently. ISLAM = The Religion Of Evil.

[sheik yerbouty]

I, yet again, paeon the sesibilities of the offended effendi impotentates, and the Euronation. I truly paon them!

[SunStar]

"The European Union understands the right of Israel to ensure security and to stop acts of terrorism against its citizens, but this kind of operation is not conducive toward peace and reconciliation," EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said.

Has Arafat left office yet? Peace and reconciliation with whom? The PLO, who sends murderers into their cities each week?

[SunStar]

Heavy handed? What a joke. Finally Israel makes a move worth cheering.