Gaza
Brushing aside complaints from Europe, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert this week said Israel would continue its military action in Gaza. Israel launched the assault after Palestinian militants kidnapped an Israeli soldier. The E.U. called the Israeli attacks on Gaza, which have killed some 60 people, “disproportionate.” Olmert countered that in the last month alone, Palestinian militants had fired 300 rockets into Israeli towns from Gaza. Hamas, the militant party that controls the Palestinian government, said this week it would free the Israeli soldier in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. But Israel rejected the offer, noting that Palestinian prisoners were tried and convicted of crimes, while the Israeli was taken hostage.
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