Washington denies to have given Sharon the green-light to strike the Palestinians

Both the US White House and State department on Monday denied that the US had given the green light to Israel to strike the Palestinian territories.

News reports quoted the spokesman for the White House Arey Flisher as saying that President Bush did not give his consent to the Israeli retaliation following the Palestinian operation.

The White House spokesman said that the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon did not ask Washington for the green light.

These statements were also supported by Philip Recker the spokesman for the US state department who said that Israel did not ask the US for the green light and that the US has not green-lighted any one.