ISRAEL now admits that the shelling on a UN base in Lebanon in which 102 people were killed was a mistake. And it apologises.

But it denies accusations that a UN video showing a spy plane flying over the base proved that the Israeli gunners knew they were targeting civilians.

Thus the "guilt" for this slaughter may never be fixed in the continuing exchange of accusation and denial.

But Israel may suffer under a broader blame - that of international rejection of the vengeance-led outlook that inspired last month's shelling offensive.

Surrounded by generally hostile neighbours, Israel needs all the support it can muster in the world outside.

But its readiness to react to threats with sledgehammer force of this kind make it ever harder to retain that support in the wider world.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.