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March 30, 2001/Nisan 6, 5761, Vol. 53, No.26
Jerusalem bombings test government's restraint
NAOMI SEGAL
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is under fierce pressure to abandon his policy of restraint following a series of terrorist attacks this week.
Terrorist bombers struck inside Israel three times this week, and four other bombing attempts were thwarted before the devices could be detonated.
Israeli officials see the attacks as a deliberate Palestinian attempt to provoke Sharon into a harsh response.
Sharon so far has avoided retaliating, concerned about the repercussions on a midweek Arab summit in Jordan, where Arab leaders convened to show support for the Palestinian uprising.
In addition, Israeli Arabs mark Land Day on March 30, a commemoration of fatalities at 1976 demonstrations that in recent years has taken on an increasingly Palestinian nationalist tone.
With relations between Israeli Jews and Arabs already tense following the police killing of 13 Arabs during rioting last fall, Israeli officials hope to avoid inflaming passions further.
Sharon therefore finds himself in a bind.
If he orders retaliation, he will play into the hands of the Arab world, which - hearkening back to Sharon's direction of the 1982 war in Lebanon - long has branded him a war criminal.
But if he does not act, Sharon will incur the wrath of many Israelis, who are questioning why he has not already done something - anything - to quell Palestinian terror.
The calls for Sharon to take action are particularly strong in Hebron, where Palestinian snipers killed a 10-month-old Jewish girl on March 26.
Jewish settlers burned cars in the Palestinian-controlled section of Hebron the night of March 27. When the army prevented them from entering Palestinian-ruled areas of the city on March 28, the settlers set fire to Palestinian buildings in parts of Hebron under Israeli rule.
There have been seven bombings within Israel since Sharon took office Feb. 6 - and several foiled terrorist attacks.
Last week, pundits said Sharon was waiting until after his inaugural Washington trip to unveil an iron fist. This week, they credited the restraint to the Arab summit and Land Day.
Some of those sources said the policy of restrained response will continue only until the end of the week, Israel Radio reported.
Members of Sharon's Cabinet also said the government would respond differently in the future, but would not elaborate.
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