HIGHLIGHTS: Peres Says It Was a Mistake that Shall be Investigated||Israel's President Says Politicians Must be Held Responsible for the Carnage||Even Sharon Who Earlier Was So Proud of Spilling Children's Blood Now Says If Israel Had Known, Another Way Would Have Been Found to Kill Shehada||However, Not Even the 'Jerusalem Post' Could Swallow the Unpalatable Flow of Poisoned Honey, ' Come on! Really!? ' Exclaimed, Israeli Analyst, Arieh O'Sullivan of the Daily Newspaper|| STORY: Debate raged in Israel on Wednesday over the wisdom of killing one of its most bitter enemies at the cost of 14 Palestinian lives and international condemnation of the devastating Gaza air raid. A day after the killing of Salah Shehada, commander of the military wing of the Islamic group Hamas, it emerged that the F-16 warplane that attacked his house used a powerful one-ton precision "smart bomb" to ensure he could not survive.

Nine Palestinian children, including a two-month-old baby, were among the 14 others killed in the attack.

Israel's Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, has described Monday night's attack on Gaza City which killed 15 people - including nine children - as a mistake.

In a BBC interview, Mr. Peres said the incident was regrettable and would be investigated.

Earlier, Israel's President, Moshe Katsav, said politicians in Israel must take responsibility for what he termed a mishap.
The attack targeted a leading member of the Palestinian Resistance group Hamas, Sheikh Salah Shahada, who was among those killed.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon who earlier described the massacre of women and children as one of the most successful operations of his occupation army was quoted later by the Israeli press as saying that if Israel had known there were so many civilians in the building, another way would have been found to kill the man who headed Israel's so-called wanted list.

However, not even the 'Jerusalem Post' Could swallow the unpalatable flow of poisoned honey, ' Come on! Really!? ' Exclaimed, Israeli ananlyst, Arieh O'Sullivan of the Daily Newspaper

"This," he said, ' is the same army that has been praised for excellent intelligence involved in dozens of targeted interceptions of terrorists over the past two years."

"These claims are dubious. And besides, what was the military thinking? That it could send in a fighter bomber and blow up a man's house and only he would be killed?" End of quote. 

PHOTO CAPTION

A December 15, 2000 file photo of the founder of the military wing of the Islamic militant group Hamas, Sheikh Salah Shehada (L), during a rally marking the 13th anniversary of the founding of Hamas in Gaza City. An Israeli air strike early on Tuesday killed at least 10 Palestinians, including Sheikh Salah Shehada, a senior Hamas official said. (Ahmed Jadallah/Reuter