The Israeli army says it is punishing militants and looking for arms-smuggling tunnels. Majority of the buildings has been demolished and the UN is finding it difficult to keep its construction rate up with the demolition rates of the Israeli tanks and bulldozers.

All these were done to fight terrorists and stop the flow of illegal arms from Egypt, according to Israeli authority. Among the 'terrorists' killed was a three-year-old girl. Although Bush has shown a humane side of his feeling by expressing revulsion at the shedding of blood, the Israelis drew motivation and encouragement in their heinous acts largely because of US' unmitigated policy slants. Remember his recent pronouncement at a dinner organised by the pro-Jewish lobby that Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorists!

No wonder the Israeli destruction of the Rafah refugee camp replicates the US policy of preemption. We see in the Israeli actions a true reflection of state terrorism in full fury -- state terrorism perpetrated by the Israeli military on the unarmed Palestinians.

A redeeming feature in the episode has been the Security Council Resolution condemning Israel for their recent killings, made possible due to the merciful abstention of the US from voting. Its time the US saw its Frankenstein rising and reined in Tel Aviv before it bulldozed yet more Palestinian lives and settlements. The carnage can and must be stopped by the US dinning sense into Sharon's ears and getting Tel Aviv to honour the UN resolutions and vacate the occupied territories.