Israel ministers blast Gaza strikes

By Barbara Plett BBC correspondent in Jerusalem

Palestinian support for militants is increasing

Deadly Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip have prompted rare internal criticism of the military's activity.

At least 10 Palestinians were killed and about 100 wounded in missile attacks on Monday, with most of the dead civilians.

The army said it was targeting Palestinian militia leaders and stores of weapons as part of its regular counter insurgency operations.

The strikes took place as the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon delivered a speech to parliament in which he vowed to go on attacking the militants as long as the Palestinian Authority (PA) failed to crack down on them.

'Mass killings'

The operation appears to have been triggered by Palestinian rocket attacks against an Israeli town close to Gaza.

These are primitive weapons that do not do much damage, but Israel views them as a strategic threat it cannot tolerate.

Israeli commentators also suggested that the army had been "letting off steam" after Palestinians killed three soldiers in the West Bank on Sunday.

However, Israel's response was so disproportionate that it extracted unusually harsh criticism from within the governing coalition.

Most people killed in the strikes were civilians

"We should not carry out mass killings in order to strike two or three terrorists," said Interior Minister Avraham Poraz, of the Shinui Party.

"I would rather [the militants] escape."

Yosef Paritzky, the Minister of Infrastructure who is also from the Shinui Party, urged Israel to apologise to, and compensate, the victims.

"We are not at war with the Palestinian population," he said.

One military correspondent was not so sure.

Popular backlash

"Is it conceivable that somebody on our side has decided that all of Palestinian society is the target?" Alex Fishman wrote in the Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth.

Many Palestinians would say yes - that Monday's carnage was the result of an ongoing strategy of deliberate, collective punishment. Some Israelis also agree.

Dr Shmuel Bar, a military analyst quoted in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, said the strikes were intended to create a "living hell" for Palestinians, with the aim of fomenting a popular backlash against the Islamic fighters who take refuge amongst them.

So far this approach has failed.

Opinion polls suggest that during the course of the three-year Palestinian uprising the popularity of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas has increased by 60%.

We should not carry out mass killings in order to strike two or three terrorists Avraham Poraz, Israeli minister

According to a recent survey 75% of Palestinians saw the devastating suicide bombing carried out in Haifa several weeks ago as a just response to what Israel was doing to them.

It is likely there would be similar support for any Palestinian retaliation for the Gaza strikes.

An army spokeswoman expressed regret for the civilian deaths.

But there was no sign of retreat from Israel's policy of assassinating Palestinian militants, which is supported by a majority of Israelis.

The PA, on the other hand, says it wants to organise a mutual cessation of violence.

Palestinian officials are now in the United States trying to win support for this strategy, which is backed by a strong majority of Palestinians.

The recent survey also suggested that 59% would accept PA measures to prevent anti-Israeli attacks if there is a mutual cease fire.

Mr Sharon has rejected such a truce, insisting that the PA first disarm and dismantle the militias. 

Palestinian analysts say in the current circumstances that is politically impossible to do, short of risking a civil war.