Bush Declines to Condemn Israeli Attack

By BARRY SCHWEID, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) on Wednesday declined to condemn the deadly attack on Palestinian demonstrators by Israeli military forces, saying he wanted to get "clarification" of the incident from Israeli officials.

The president urged Palestinians and Israel for "restraint," as the White House and the U.S. ambassador to Israel asked Israel for an explanation for the attack, which killed at least 10 Palestinians, all children and teens.

"I continue to urge restraint," Bush told reporters following a Cabinet meeting in the Roosevelt Room. "It is essential that people respect innocent life in order for us to achieve peace."

Israel's military acknowledged that soldiers fired four tank shells, a missile and machine guns to stop 3,000 Palestinian demonstrators it said were heading toward a battle zone in the Gaza Strip (news - web sites). The demonstrators in Rafah, Gaza Strip, were protesting against the Israeli invasion of a neighboring refugee camp.

Bush pointedly refused to criticize the attack.

"We'll get clarification from the government," Bush said more than five hours after the attack. "I haven't had a chance to speak to the government."

Bush said he expected to be briefed on the attack, but he insisted: "I'll continue to speak out about the need for all parties to respect innocent life in the Middle East."

The president's remarks came a day after he softened its criticism of Israel's tactics in Gaza aimed at stopping the smuggling of weapons to Palestinian terror groups.

Earlier Wednesday, in a measured response, the White House called on Israel to provide facts about the incident. In Tel Aviv, U.S. Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer asked Israeli officials for an explanation.

"We are very concerned about reports from Gaza and the number of Palestinians who are said to be injured and killed," White House press secretary Scott McClellan told reporters. "We've asked for the government of Israel for the facts about what happened today. We continue to follow this closely. We urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint."

Associated Press Television News footage showed a large explosion going off in a crowd of demonstrators, followed by Palestinians carrying the wounded — including children and teenagers — from the smoky scene.

"We are asking them for more information," McClellan said. "I don't have any more to report at this point. We're trying to find out more about the facts about what happened. ... Let's find out more about the facts."

A senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said later that the White House's measured response was due to the fact that early reports from such violence is often wrong.

The explosion came a day after the Bush administration softened its criticism of Israel's tactics in Gaza aimed at stopping the smuggling of weapons to Palestinian terror groups.

"We understand their explanation, but we still find the violence troubling," McClellan said amid international accusations that Israel was intentionally destroying the homes of innocent Palestinians.

President Bush on Tuesday affirmed Israel's right to defend itself and called on Palestinians to renounce violence and to reject failed leaders.

In a speech to the pro-Israel lobby American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Bush said, "The United States is strongly committed — and I am strongly committed — to the security of Israel as a vibrant Jewish state."

At the same time, Bush said he was committed to helping the Palestinians to establish a viable, democratic state. However, the president said, "Israel needs a truly responsible partner in achieving peace."