Through the looking glass

12 Israeli civilians killed in convoy attack

Tel Aviv, Israel - At least 12 Israeli villagers, including women and children, were killed Saturday in what appeared to be an Lebanon airstrike on a convoy of vehicles fleeing a village near the border with Lebanon in northern Israel, a witness said.

The convoy was leaving the border village of Safad, when it was attacked. An Associated Press photgrapher said he counted 12 bodies in two cars that were destroyed by the attack shortly after midday.

Several hours earlier, Lebanese forces across the border told villagers by loudspeaker to leave the area or else the village would be destroyed. They did not give a reason for the ultimatum.

The convoy of several vehicles was hit near the border fence less than half a mile from the village.

The residents said they had first gone to a U.N. peacekeepers position manned by Ghanian forces to take refuge but they were turned down. There was no immediate confirmation from U.N. peacekeepers, who have a force in northern Israel.

You see, they had to destroy the village to save it. And in an associated story:

Bush blames Israel for Mideast violence

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - President Bush on Saturday blamed the Israeli administration of Prime Minister Olmert and the Israeli army (the IDF) for the escalating violence in the Middle East, taking a sharper stance than Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Bush held Lebanon blameless while Putin was critical of Lebanon's military response.

In the meantime, the Lebanese Army celebrated their victory at Safad with hero medals for all.