US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher yesterday expressed \"deep concern\" over Israel’s strikes against targets in heavily populated PLO-controlled sections of Gaza. Israel’s military activity came in response to the PLO’s Kassam-2 rockets attacks. Boucher criticized both the PA and Israel, saying, \"We are deeply troubled by the upsurge in violence in the region. We have made it very clear... that Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian Authority have responsibility right now to take strong, resolute and irreversible action to halt violence and terror and to take immediate steps to ensure that there are no further arms smuggling attempts. [We are deeply concerned about] reports of the use of a new rocket... Though we understand the need for Israel to take steps to ensure its self-defense, we are seriously concerned about Israeli attacks over the past several days on Palestinian Authority facilities, particularly in areas that are heavily populated by civilians. We are especially concerned by attacks on or near Palestinian prison facilities, reported releases of prisoners detained in those areas, and reports a United Nations facility was struck, with possibly a UN official wounded. Attacks such as these are counter-productive to efforts to reduce the violence and restore calm...\"



UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan sharply criticized Israel’s aerial strike that resulted in the wounding of UN personnel and damage to a UN building. Mideast envoy Terje Larsen said that the UN had filed formal complaints with the appropriate diplomatic channels. Damage to the UN facility was light and Israel was quick to issue an apology, noting that UN facilities and personnel were not targeted and that the damage incurred was not intentional.