Qureia: Retaliation for air strike is 'justified'

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia condemned an Israeli air strike that killed 14 Hamas militants in unusually harsh terms Tuesday, warning the attack will invite a tough response from the militant group and saying retaliation will be "justified."\nPalestinian officials said Qureia's comments reflected his people's outrage as well as his impatience with the political paralysis within the Palestinian authority. They said Qureia told Cabinet ministers he was so frustrated he wants to resign.\nThe Israeli attack, which struck a Hamas training camp in Gaza City shortly after midnight, came a week after Hamas suicide bombers blew up two Israeli buses in the Israeli city of Beersheba, killing 16 people.\nThe air strike was one of the deadliest of dozens Israel has launched since fighting broke out with the Palestinians four years ago. Thousands of Palestinian mourners in Gaza clamored for revenge and Hamas vowed to avenge the attack.\nQureia, speaking at a Palestinian Cabinet meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah, said he was outraged.\n"No crime goes unpunished," he said. "For sure there will be retaliation, and the retaliation will be justified if it happens."\nWhile Palestinian leaders always criticize Israeli attacks, Qureia's reaction was especially harsh, hinting he would tolerate a Hamas reprisal. In the past, Qureia has distanced himself from Hamas, which has carried out dozens of suicide bombings.\nQureia's comments appeared to reflect the Palestinian public's anger over the air strike. But a government minister said Qureia also was frustrated by his general sense of powerlessness.\nPalestinian leader Yasser Arafat has repeatedly blocked efforts to reform the corruption-plagued Palestinian authority while Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon refuses to negotiate with the Palestinians.\n"We as a Cabinet are not able to do anything," the minister quoted Qureia as saying. "I am going to Arafat. I will tell him we can't work like this," Qureia said, waving a resignation letter in front of them.\nIt wasn't immediately clear whether Qureia would follow through on the threat. He has made similar threats in the past -- and briefly stepped down in July -- only to back down under pressure from Arafat.\nAn Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, brushed off Qureia's comments on retaliation, saying the prime minister lacked the power to do anything.\nThe Israeli helicopters struck the Hamas camp with five missiles early Tuesday, killing 14 militants and wounding 30 other people. The army said the camp, located in the Hamas stronghold of Shajaiyeh in Gaza City, was used to train militants to fire mortars and rockets. In the past month, Hamas assembled a large bomb and a suicide bomber's explosives belt at the training camp, the army added.\nThe attack sparked an outpouring of rage. Children stayed home from school, and black smoke billowed over the city as students burned tires in spontaneous demonstrations. Some 30,000 people, including dozens of militants, joined a funeral procession. As men fired machine guns into the air, the crowd screamed for revenge.\n \n"Our response to this crime is coming, God willing, and our twin attack in Beersheba is only one part of many strikes to come," a Hamas militant shouted over loud speakers mounted on a car.\nSince the current round of fighting with the Palestinians began in September 2000, Israel has frequently targeted militants.\nBut Tuesday's attack was one of the deadliest. The strikes are usually aimed at very specific targets -- usually top leaders or militants on their way to an attack.\n"No one is immune when he carries out terrorist attacks against innocent Israeli civilians," Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said.\nThe air strikes have enraged the Palestinians and drawn international criticism, particularly because of the frequent civilian casualties. Hamas said all 14 people killed Tuesday were militants.\nIn Washington, Secretary of State Colin Powell urged Israel and the Palestinians to seek a way out of their conflict. Of the air strike, Powell said, "I don't think they (retaliatory raids) are very helpful. The situation is very tragic."\nEgyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned the air strike, saying it "raises doubts about the real intentions of the Israeli government." He said the strike undermined Egypt's efforts to bring calm to the area.\nWith Sharon refusing to negotiate with the Palestinians, Egypt has stepped in as a mediator as Israel prepares to withdraw from the Gaza Strip next year.\nAboul Gheit was in the West Bank Monday to work on preparations for the withdrawal with the Palestinians.\nAlso Tuesday, Israeli forces cut main Gaza roads in two places, dividing the seaside territory into three parts -- a common step following violence. The Israelis say it's a security measure, but Palestinians call it collective punishment.