White House: Israel Attacks Must End

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration assailed Israel on Friday for attacks that have left scores of Palestinian civilians dead.
Demanding an immediate halt, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said "above all, civilians should not be targeted."

Boucher cited reports of an Israeli vigilante group carrying out an attack on the West Bank and reported attacks on ambulances.

"We strongly oppose the Israeli policy of targeted killing that has led to the death of many innocent civilians," the spokesman said.

"It's important for the Israelis to think hard about their policies, think through the consequences of things like going into heavily populated areas with heavy military force. Because those consequences can be tragic," Boucher said.

His remarks at the State Department's daily media briefing extended a the tougher line the Bush administration has taken recently on Israel's tactics in retaliating to Palestinian terror attack.