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Sharon is no better than the suicide bombers, though at least they have the decency to rid the world of themselves - - Sharon instead uses US-provided F16s to kill indiscriminately from a safe distance.
It's is interesting, isn't it, the way blind Israeli supporters like Wulfgar, coaster, Ringo, convenor, conqueror etc (always ready to justify Israeli behaviour) have gone all quiet recently over these inexcusable atrocities? It would be hard for them to put a spin on them.
So now the countdown begins for the next wave of retaliatory suicide bombings... nice one Sharon, and thanks America for not condemning his actions.
Israeli air strike on Hamas chief kills 9 children
ABRAHAM RABINOVICH in Jerusalem and AGENCIES in Gaza
24/July/2002
Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad yesterday vowed revenge for an Israeli air strike that killed the Hamas military chief and 14 other people, including nine children.
The timing of the attack in Gaza City threatens to plunge the region into a fresh cycle of bloodshed, just as hopes for renewed talks were being rekindled.
The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, vowed retribution that would leave Israeli "human remains" in every street.
"Retaliation is coming and everything is considered a target," senior Hamas spokesman Abdel Aziz al Rantissi said. "Hamas' retaliation will come very soon, and there won't be only just one [attack] . . . After this crime, even Israelis in their homes will be the target of our operations."
Abu Imad Rifai, an official of Islamic Jihad, said: "This terrorist massacre will not go unpunished and the Zionist enemy will pay a high price."
An Israeli F-16 warplane struck a crowded neighbourhood of Gaza City yesterday, killing Qassam leader Salah Shehada and 14 other people, including nine children, and wounding at least 145, hospital officials said.
Shehada's wife and three children were among those killed.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said the bombing was "one of the great successes", but also said "we . . . are always sorry over civilians who were struck".
But by firing a missile into a densely packed neighbourhood in the middle of the night, civilian casualties were a certainty, Palestinians said. The blast was powerful enough to level five houses.
In a rare criticism of Israel, President George W. Bush denounced the attack as "heavy-handed". "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 said.
As 50,000 angry Palestinians attended a mass funeral in Gaza City, Israel was struggling to justify the strike.
Israeli officials said there was no certainty that children would be in the targeted building. But Palestinians pointed out that if the Israelis knew they were bombing Shehada's home, they should have expected his family to be there with him.
Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said the attack was a "war crime" and a deliberate attempt to heighten tensions and undermine recently launched talks aimed at calming the situation and preparing for the resumption of peace talks. "Sharon is determined to kill any chance of peace," he said.
The Palestinian Authority asked the Security Council to issue sanctions against Israel for the attack. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan condemned the attack and the killing of innocents.
Deputy Defence Minister Dalia Rabin- Pelossof, the daughter of former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, resigned yesterday, with colleagues saying she was upset with Mr Sharon's reluctance to reopen peace talks with the Palestinians.
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