POWELL: ISRAEL DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF

CAN YOU IMAGE ISRAEL TELLING THE U.S. THAT GOING AFTER OSAMA BIN LADEN AND HIS DEPUTIES IN RETALIATION FOR THE TERRORIST ATTACKS OF 9/11 IS "TRAGIC AND UNHELPFUL?" NO. BUT THAT IS JUST WHAT COLIN POWELL HAS DONE REGARDING ISRAEL'S ATTACKING A HAMAS TRAINING CAMP AFTER LAST WEEK'S BUS BOMBINGS IN BEERSHEBA. HE ALSO IMPLIES THAT HAMAS' ATTACK WAS JUST ANOTHER ACT OF RETALIATION AGAINST ISRAEL IN THE "CYCLE OF VIOLENCE."

APPALLING.

Powell: Arab-Israeli Retaliation Tragic, Unhelpful
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Tuesday acts of Israeli-Palestinian retaliation are tragic and unhelpful after Israel killed 14 militants in a military strike against a Hamas training camp.

The top U.S. diplomat's comments, while directed at both the Israelis and the Palestinians, differed from the standard U.S. line that Israel has a right to defend itself.

Israeli tanks, helicopters and warplanes pounded a Hamas training camp in the Gaza Strip following a double suicide bombing conducted by the militant group that killed 16 people in southern Israel a week ago.

Asked about the Israeli strike and Palestinian threats to respond, Powell told reporters: "I don't think they are helpful ... The situation is very tragic.

"Retaliation is not a solution to the problems that we face in the region," he added.