In the northern Gaza Strip, Israeli forces have now killed 14 Palestinians over the past 2 days in and around Beit Lahiya. The Washington Post reported 60-ton Israeli tanks and Apache helicopters attacked rock-throwing teenagers and gunmen armed with homemade rockets. Palestinian medical authorities said most of those killed were teenagers. At least 40 people have also been injured. Meanwhile President Bush dismissed international criticism world for backing Israel’s right to keep settlements in the West Bank and rejecting the right of Palestinians to return to their homeland. Bush said Wednesday “Ariel Sharon came to America, and he stood up with me and he said, 'We are pulling out of Gaza and parts of the West Bank. In my judgment, the whole world should have said, ’Thank you, Ariel. Now we have a chance to begin the construction of a peaceful Palestinian state.'”