Israeli PM Apologizes For Palestinian Deaths
Shaveta Bansal - All Headline News Staff Writer Petra, Jordan (AHN) - During a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert apologized for the deaths of Palestinian civilians in recent Israeli army air strikes. The two leaders met at an informal breakfast with Jordan's King Abdullah II. According to the AP, some 13 Palestinian civilians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in the past week. Olmert said he felt "deep regret for the death of innocent Palestinians. It is against our policy and I am very, very sorry," he added. However, Olmert did not mention a June 9 beach explosion in which another eight Palestinian civilians were killed. Palestinians blame Israel for that incident, but Israel has denied responsibility. Though, Maj. Gen. Eliezer Shakedi, the Israeli air force commander, said in Israel, that the airstrikes would continue. He blamed the increasing militant activity for the escalating number of errors. "We have to make a great effort to try everything possible to avoid hitting civilians," he told Israel's Army Radio. He said that the air strikes were aimed at fighting terrorism and that they were "most accurate and the best possible option without launching a broad and very significant (ground) operation." The international gathering at Jordan had brought the two rival country leaders together for the first time since Olmert took office |
