Special report: Israel launches Gaza assault

    JERUSALEM, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday that the United Nations should condemn Palestinian militants instead of Israel over the errant killing of over 19 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the local Yedioth Aharonot newspaper reported.

    "Those who fire to harm civilians for a long period of time should be condemned," Olmert was quoted as saying in a cabinet meeting.

    "Only those who roll their eyes and preach morality feel that (Israel) should be condemned," he added.

    The prime minister also stressed that his government would fully support the Israel Defense Forces. "The entire government has complete confidence in the army," he said.

    The United Nations General Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution deploring the Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip and calling for its immediate withdrawal from the area.

    The resolution was approved by a vote of 156 to 7 with six abstentions. The United States, Israel and Australia were among those who voted against it.

    An emergency special session was convened at the request of Arab delegations and the Non-Aligned Movement, following a U.S. veto on Nov. 11 of an Arab-sponsored draft resolution that would have condemned the deadly Israeli attack in Gaza and urged an immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from there.