Israel Apologizes For Civilian Deaths
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Says It's Against Israeli Policy
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Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, left, shakes hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, center, and Jordan's King Abdullah after a breakfast hosted the king, June 22, 2006. (AP Photo/Moshe Milner)
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Israeli Vice Premier and Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres, right, shake hands with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, after a meeting of Nobel laureates in the ancient city of Petra, Jordan, June 21. 2006. (AP Photo/Nader Daoud)
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Abbas looks out the window of his helicopter before leaving Ramallah for the meeting in Jordan, June 22, 2006. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
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Some 13 Palestinian civilians have been killed in Israeli air strikes in the past week, including two people in a Gaza house on Wednesday and three children in Gaza on Tuesday.
Olmert said he felt "deep regret for the death of innocent Palestinians."
"It is against our policy and I am very, very sorry," he added.
Later, speaking at an economic conference in Jerusalem, Olmert apologized "from the depths of my being" for civilian deaths in recent airstrikes in Gaza, but he added, "Israel will continue to carry out targeted attacks against terrorists and those who try to harm Israeli citizens."
In other developments:
It was the first time Olmert and Abbas have met since Olmert was elected three months ago. Both sides said the meeting was positive, but pointed out that it was not negotiations, reports Berger. The two leaders are expected to hold a formal meeting in the near future to discuss reviving peace talks.
However, Olmert cautioned that serious negotiations were unlikely until the Hamas-led Palestinian government recognized Israel.
"I think that Abu Mazen is a genuine person and he comes here with good intentions," Olmert said after meeting Abbas, using the Palestinian leader's nickname.
"But to the best of my knowledge, he is not the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority," Olmert said. Abbas, a moderate elected separately last year, is in an intense power struggle with Hamas politicians, including Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.
©MMVI CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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