"We condemn, as we always do, these kinds of unprovoked attacks on innocent civilians," State Department spokesman Tom Casey said during a news briefing. "There is no excuse for it."

Concerning Israel's retaliation, Casey said the department has a longstanding view that Israel has a right to defend itself.

"(However), we always ask that in doing so, they consider the consequences of those actions and the potential effect it might have," he said.

As for effects on the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Casey said, the countries' two leaders were committed to moving forward with negotiations and creation of a Palestinian state.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be visiting Israel and the Palestinian territories as well as attending a NATO ministerial March 3-7.

"In Israel and the Palestinian territories, she'll meet with officials from both sides, and obviously this is part of the follow-up to the Annapolis (Md., peace) process," Casey said.