Israel Says It Will Proceed With Demolition of Homes
By JAMES BENNET
Published: May 17, 2004
JERUSALEM, May 16 — Despite international criticism, Israeli officials said Sunday that they intended to proceed with a plan to widen an Israeli-patrolled lane along the Gaza Strip's border with Egypt by demolishing as many as hundreds of Palestinian homes.
The Israeli Army defended the proposed demolitions as necessary to foil weapons smugglers and to protect soldiers in the area from Palestinian militants who use the buildings as cover.