Israel Calls Gaza Incursion Successful

 Israel's military said Saturday that its 17-day incursion into the northern Gaza Strip struck a heavy blow to Palestinian militants routinely firing makeshift rockets into the country's southern region.  Palestinian residents, however, accused the army of wanton destruction, saying the broad military offensive targeted densely populated areas never used to launch rockets. At least 110 Palestinians -- including dozens of civilians -- were killed, making this the bloodiest military offensive in northern Gaza in four years of fighting. Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia called the offensive "part of a series of planned Israeli attacks to bring our people to their knees, but this will never happen." The military campaign, launched after a rocket strike on the Israeli border town of Sderot killed two children, ended after nightfall Friday, when Israel withdrew tanks and ground forces from populated areas in northern Gaza. But Israeli officials conceded the operation was unlikely to halt the rocket attacks altogether and stressed that the army was prepared to return if necessary. [more ]