Olmert rejects EU criticism of Israel's Gaza raids

JERUSALEM, July 10 (Reuters) Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today rejected European Union criticism of Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip, saying the EU should focus instead on Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel.

''When was the last time that the European Union condemned this shooting and suggested effective measures to stop it?'' Olmert said in remarks to the foreign press. ''At some point, Israel had no point but to take some measures in order to stop this thing.'' Reuters MQA VP1318