Powell condemns Israeli strike as 'excessive and disproportionate'

Powell condemned Israel's response to Palestinian mortar attacks

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Tuesday that Israel's strikes against Palestinian targets in Gaza overnight were "excessive and disproportionate."

Israel reoccupied a small strip of land in northern Gaza and closed roads, effectively cutting the Palestinian-controlled area into three parts. Israeli officials said the reoccupation was in response to mortar shells fired at the Israel town of Sderot.

In a statement read by State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, Powell said the United States is "deeply concerned" about events over the past four days, including a Hezbollah guerrilla attack in the Shebaa Farms area, an Israel strike at a Syrian radar station in Lebanon, "ongoing" Palestinian mortar attacks into Israel and Monday night's raids by Israel in Gaza.

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"The situation is threatening to escalate further, posing a risk of broader conflict," said Powell. "We have called upon all sides to exercise maximum restraint, to reduce tensions and to take steps to end the violence immediately.

"The hostilities last night in Gaza were precipitated by the provocative Palestinian mortar attacks on Israel. The Israeli response was excessive and disproportionate."

Powell called on the Palestinians to implement their commitment to renounce terrorism and violence, "to exercise control over all elements of the PLO and the Palestinian Authority, and to discipline violators."

The Israelis, he said, should respect their commitment to withdraw from Gaza. He added: "There can be no military solution to this conflict."

The secretary said the "resumption of bilateral security cooperation is essential to reduce and eventually to end the violence. We are continuing to work with the parties so that they can resume as soon as possible those security discussions that they began two weeks ago."

Israel retaliates for Hezbollah attack
April 14, 2001
Powell urges end to Mideast clashes
February 25, 2001

Lebanese Armed Forces
Lebanese Presidential Palace
Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Israeli Prime Minister's Office
Knesset, Israeli Parliament
Israel Defense Forces
Permanent Mission of Israel to the U.N.

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