Israel Apologizes, but Strikes to Continue

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The Israeli military's Chief of Staff has ordered an internal inquiry into the string of civilian deaths from air strikes in the Gaza Strip. Thirteen Palestinian civilians have been killed in air strikes in Gaza in the last ten days. The deaths have prompted international calls for restraint and vows for revenge by militant groups. Israel has expressed regret over the civilian deaths but says the air strikes will continue until Palestinians halt rocket attacks on Israel.

NPR's Eric Westervelt reports.

ERIC WESTERVELT reporting:

On Wednesday night outside the southern town of Hanunis, a missile from an Israeli fighter jet missed its target - militants traveling in a car - and instead slammed into a nearby house. A 37-year-old woman, seven months pregnant, and her brother were killed. Thirteen others in the family were injured.

On Tuesday, another missile missed its target, killing three children in Gaza City. Last week in Gaza, an air strike killed three members of Islamic Jihad, which has carried out a string of deadly suicide bombings in Israel. That air strike also killed eight civilians.

Hamas legislator Mahmoud Aramahi brushed aside calls for Hamas to reign in militants who fire rockets and blamed Israel for the escalation.

Mr. MAHMOUD ARAMAHI (Hamas): This is the continuance of the aggression of the Israelis against our civilian peoples. The Israeli ask us to not attack the Israeli civilians, but continue to killing our childrens...

WESTERVELT: Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert apologized for the civilian casualties but also vowed more tough military action. Israel will continue, Olmert said, to carry out targeted attacks against terrorists and those who try to harm Israeli citizens.

Militants today fired three more Kasam rockets and a mortar round at Israel. Britain's foreign secretary called this week's civilian deaths completely unacceptable. United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan urged both sides to show restraint. In a statement, Annan's spokesman called for Israel to, quote, "respect international law and to insure that its actions are proportionate and do not put civilians at great risk," unquote.

Human rights groups are calling for an outside probe. Donatella Rivera with Amnesty International charges that Israel's use of air power shows a pattern of reckless disregard for civilians.

Ms. DONATELLA RIVERA (Amnesty International): Firing missiles generally at a moving vehicle in densely populated areas, the likelihood of harming uninvolved civilian bystanders is extremely high.

WESTERVELT: The Israeli military rejects Amnesty's charge and says it does all it can to minimize civilian casualties. Ironically, Israel has tapped air power more frequently in recent weeks, in part because it's seen as a more pinpoint or precise way of killing rocket-launch teams than artillery fire, which sprays shrapnel over a wide area.

In the last five years, 15 Israelis have been killed in rocket attacks. This year, militants have fired more than 500 rockets at Israel, injuring half a dozen people. An Israeli military official said it's a miracle there haven't been more casualties from the barrage of rockets and, quote, "we can't keep relying on miracles."

Lieutenant Colonel DAVID BENJAMIN (Israel Defense Forces): An incoming rocket which has the potential of causing significant civilian casualties on our side certainly worthy of a military response from our side.

WESTERVELT: Lieutenant Colonel David Benjamin is the senior legal advisor with the Israel Defense Forces. He says the militant factions are aiming solely at Israeli civilians and intentionally shooting from densely populated areas.

Colonel BENJAMIN: The problem is here that the other side, unfortunately, are deliberately using civilian areas as platforms for launching these rocket attacks, which is really in breach of what I would call the first law of warfare, which is to keep the civilians out of the picture.

WESTERVELT: The rising civilian toll certainly hasn't helped fledgling efforts to restart long-stalled peace talks. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas got a stern warning from Israel's justice minister. Haim Ramon said any talks with Abbas would be fruitless unless he exerts control over militants. Whoever is incapable of preventing the launching of rockets, Ramon told Israeli TV, certainly cannot carry out the commitments of a peace agreement.

Eric Westervelt, NPR News, Jerusalem.

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