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Barak Defends Retaliatory Air Strikes on Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak defended Israel's air strikes against the Palestinian targets in the Gaza Strip November 20 evening, saying such moves were aimed at protecting Israeli settlers and settlements in the area.
The air strikes were a clear signal the Israeli government wanted to give to the Palestinian side that it cannot remain idle when its citizens were killed by the Palestinians, Barak said in a televised speech to the nation.
Two Israeli settlers were killed and nine others, including school children, wounded when a bus was bomb attacked earlier November 20 in Gaza Strip. This was a violation of the ceasefire understanding reached by the two sides, Barak added.
He held the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) responsible for the attack near the Jewish settlement of Kfar Darom. The PNA has rejected any links with the bombing, saying it has launched investigation into the incident.
Meanwhile, Barak urged the opposition parties to join a national emergency government in the face of the current situation.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has announced the end of the raids on Gaza Strip, in which at least 80 Palestinians were injured. However, witnesses said sporadic Israeli bombardments continued.
The IDF confirmed reports that the Israeli Navy vessels off the Gaza coast participated in the strikes, which was launched earlier November 20 evening.
Israeli combat helicopters and warships carried out two waves of missile strikes on Palestinian targets throughout the Gaza Strip, including Gaza city, Rafah and Khan Yunis.
The targets included the headquarters of Fatah, the main political faction led by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, and Tanzim, a military wing of Fatah.
The headquarters of Arafat's personal guard, known as Force 17, and the Gaza Preventive Security Service were also targeted.
A number of police stations, the Palestinian radio and television stations in Gaza were also hit.
Israel termed the air strikes as a "measured response" to the bus bombing, saying it had given prior warnings.
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