Israeli army cleared to demolish Gaza homes, despite US criticism

JERUSALEM : The Israeli army was given the green light to step up its widely criticised demolitions of Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip after a massive public protest demanding a pullout from the occupied territory.

The supreme court in Jerusalem ruled the army could continue its demolitions, which the United Nations says has already left more than a 1,000 people homeless since late last week and prompted criticism from US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The demolitions had been carried out for justifiable "operational reasons" and were not a form of collective punishment, the judges ruled.

However in a rare rebuke for Washington's chief Middle Eastern ally, Powell said in Jordan that "we oppose the destruction of homes, we don't think that is productive."

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher, who was also attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the shores of the Dead Sea, said the demolitions made a mockery of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stated desire to quit Gaza.........

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