Mofaz Defends Policy In Face Of American Criticism

U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher condemned Israel\'s liquidation on Sunday of three terrorists on their way to an attack. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Sha\'ul Mofaz, who is visiting in the U.S., said, \"Everyone who brings up the issue of the right of self-defense has to ask what they would do if their country was exposed to 5,600 acts of terrorism.\"

Jul 3, 2001, 6:47 PM (GMT+3)

U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher condemned Israel\'s liquidation on Sunday of three terrorists on their way to an attack. Boucher said yesterday, \"We remain opposed to Israel\'s policy of targeted killings,\" and appealed again to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to restrain Israel\'s response to attacks on Israel. He also said, however, that the Palestinians were not doing enough to fight terror and to end violence. The bottom line of the American position is that, \"In light of the violence, the first day of the projected seven days of calm had not yet arrived.\" Responding to Boucher\'s statement, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Sha\'ul Mofaz, who is visiting in the U.S., said, \"Everyone who brings up the issue of the right of self-defense has to ask what they would do if their country was exposed to 5,600 acts of terrorism. Our actions are very carefully considered.\"