Israel takes a step away from collective punishment:

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz yesterday ended the policy of demolishing houses belonging to terrorists' families. The move came after recommendations made by a military committee appointed by Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon to examine the policy of house demolitions. The interim conclusions of the committee were presented last week to Ya'alon, who asked for some more information for the final draft. Mofaz ruled that he will also put on hold the army's prerogative to use home demolitions as a warning to terrorists. He said, however, that should circumstances change dramatically, it is possible that Israel would reconsider its policy on house demolitions. Human rights group B'Tselem said that since the outbreak of a Palestinian intifada in September 2000, the IDF forces has razed or dynamited 675 dwellings in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, leaving 4,239 people homeless.