Palestinian President Yasser Arafat called on the international community Tuesday to act immediately following Israel's Gaza air strikes a day before, which left 14 Palestinians dead and over 90 injured.
According to Arafat, leaders of the so-called Quartet, who are trying to crystallize a peace treaty between the sides, should intervene immediately to "end the insane actions of the Israeli army in the occupied Palestinian territories".
In Gaza, tens of thousands of Palestinians joined Tuesday's funeral procession. "Sharon, wait, wait, you have opened hell's gate," the crowd chanted in a threat of revenge, as the bodies were carried on stretchers through the Nusseirat refugee camp.
The Israeli media admitted that the most of the victims were innocent civilians and raised questions regarding Sharon’s government policy of targeting Palestinian civilians. "The conflict and violence appear to have become a goal unto itself," wrote the military correspondent of the Tel Aviv-based Yediot Ahronot daily. "Where are the red lines we impose on ourselves in this war? How long can we hurt innocent civilians?"
Meanwhile, Washington has refused to condemn the Gaza killings, which were carried out by U.S.-supplied F-16 fighters and Apache helicopter gunships. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
