Bush 'Deeply Troubled' by Israeli Strike

WASHINGTON - President Bush scolded Israel on Tuesday for a helicopter attack on a senior Hamas leader that killed a bystander and a bodyguard, warning that such a strike "does not contribute to the security of Israel."

The strike came less than a week after Bush launched the "road map" toward Middle East peace he helped craft at a summit with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.

"The president is deeply troubled by the strike of helicopter gunships that reportedly killed at least two persons and wounded 20 others," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said. "The president is concerned that this strike will undermine efforts by Palestinian authorities to bring an end to terrorist attacks, and it does not contribute to the security of Israel."

Abbas denounced the helicopter strike as a "criminal and terrorist" Israeli attack, and asked the United States to intervene.

Bush said after the summit in Aqaba, Jordan, last week that he would seek to keep the parties on the path to peace if he saw them straying. The prepared statement issued from Fleischer's lectern seemed to be in keeping with that.

"What's important in this new environment is for Palestinians and Israelis to find ways to work together on the path to peace," Fleischer said. "This is going to require both the Palestinian Authority and Israel to find new ways to protect the road map so it can advance to face terrorism."

"In looking at the progress that must be made for the road map and looking at this attack, the president is deeply troubled by it," Fleischer said.

The White House has often tempered such warnings to Israel by emphasizing that "Israel has a right to defend itself," and Fleischer repeated that language Tuesday.

But, he added: "Israel has to act on that right in a manner that is consistent with larger objectives, and in this case the president views this as deeply troubling."

In the attack Tuesday, Israeli helicopters fired missiles at a car carrying Abdel Aziz Rantisi, the most high-profile political leader of the Islamic militant group Hamas to be targeted by Israel in 32 months of fighting. Rantisi said he jumped out of his car when he heard the choppers overhead. He was injured and underwent surgery.

"We will continue with our holy war and resistance until every last criminal Zionist is evicted from this land," Rantisi told the Arab TV satellite station Al-Jazeera from his hospital bed.

Abbas accused Israel of trying to destroy the "road map" plan to get out of its commitments.

At the same time, Israeli troops dismantled 10 tiny, uninhabited settlement outposts in the West Bank overnight, in line with the first requirements of the peace plan.

But the road map also says Israel must refrain from actions that undermine trust. It does not specifically rule out the targeted killings of Palestinian militants.

Israel said after its acceptance of the plan last month that it would from now on reserve the practice of targeted killings to "ticking bomb" scenarios, as a last means of preventing attacks on Israelis.

You're truly amazing.

The fact PresBush condemns Israel for comitting this specific attack, is important to keep his appearence of being an honest broker in the ME. Anyone with half a brain knows the US is Israel's friend and ally. PresBush is attempting to assist Israel in finally securing an end to all hostilites. If you think killing all the Palis is the answer, your wrong. If you think Israel should engage in another war with the Arab world, your wrong. The next big war in the ME could mean the end of Israel, as we know it. And I'm not referring to any Bibical profhecy either. 300 million Arab's may not choose to sit still this time. The tinderbox could explode into a dangerous regional conflict.

The day may yet come when such events will lead to all out war, with Israel and the US battling the Islamic/Arab world. Clinton had his opportunity. Lets give PresBush his opportunity. Anything is possible.

To: DoughtyOne

You're truly amazing.

Why thank you.

The Israeli people themselves are sick and tired of over fifty years of conflict and killing, that has no real end in sight. They want some legitimate possiblity of a lasting peace. You must know that. Well, perhaps you don't.

We both accept the fact that the Israelis want peace. What we seem to disagree on is why they should be willing sacrifice to make it happen while the other side continues to blow their loved ones to oblivion. We both can look back for decades to see what Israel has sacrificed in the quest for peace. What neither of us can recall is anything the Palestinians have been asked to give up, including terrorism.

Oh sure, we go through the motions, but we know damned well the terrorism is going to continue. None the less we make demands on Israel. That is perposterous and you know it.

The fact PresBush condemns Israel for comitting this specific attack, is important to keep his appearence of being an honest broker in the ME.

Could you please tell me why Bush must remain impartial on the subject of Israel? France, Germany, the EU, the UN, all middle east leaders and just about every other nation's leadership on the planet openly condemns Israel at every opportunity. In the face of this YOU think we should remain impartial. Please grace us with the reasoning behind betraying Israel in the quest for peace. I'd love to hear it.

Anyone with half a brain knows the US is Israel's friend and ally. PresBush is attempting to assist Israel in finally securing an end to all hostilites.

Anyone with half a brain knows that our leadership remains silent regarding terrorism perpetrated against Israel until Israel responds. Then we damn Israel for jeopardizing prospects for peace. With assitance like this, who needs enemies?

If you think killing all the Palis is the answer, your wrong.

Along with the rest of your misguided comments, this one takes the cake. I'd like nothing more than to see the Palestinians living a successful life in peace on the West Bank and Gaza. It is their own citizens that aid the terrorists and you know it. It is their own leadership that avoids ending any number of efforts devised to make sure they continue. Mosks, schools, print media and civic leaders call for the destruction of the Jewish dogs or monkeys. Despite this, neither Israel or I have ever proposed killing the Palestinians other than to target known terrorists. Your implication that I did doesn't reflect well on you.

If you think Israel should engage in another war with the Arab world, your wrong.

What exactly do you call mass casualty bombings and daily military style incursions into Israeli territory, peace?

The next big war in the ME could mean the end of Israel, as we know it. And I'm not referring to any Bibical profhecy either. 300 million Arab's may not choose to sit still this time. The tinderbox could explode into a dangerous regional conflict.

So anotherwords Israel should just sit there and allow continued attacks on it's citizens? B.S., and you know it. Israel's past actions have not created peace. Their efforts at compromising and trying to meet Palestinian and global demands have been met with stiff-necked contempt. To hell with policies that see their citizens blown up by the busload, coffee shop or market full.

Dream on. Refusing to back your ally while everyone else openly supports their enemy is futile and suicidal.
51 posted on 06/10/2003 8:52 AM PDT by Reagan Man

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