STORM2K

Early this morning, two suicide bombers set off their devices at two sites in the northern suburbs of Jerusalem. One, disguised as a Hasidic Jew, waited until the shuttle bus to downtown was full before boarding and killing 7, wounding 40 more (at this writing). The other was stopped after meeting an Israeli roadblock erected in response to the first attack; he detonated himself without others injured.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon cancelled his trip to meet with President Bush over the Palestinian time table; the Palestinian PM, Abu Masul, after four weeks in office, is being faulted for not stopping the attacks. These latest bombings came on the heels of the first meeting betwen Sharon and Masul (the first meeting of high-level Israelis and Palestinians in 2 1/2 years, BTW), and are seen as a deliberate attempt to derail the talks.

Personally, IMHO Abu Masul has an impossible task in finding Palestinians who would join any force that expressly targets the suicide bombers and their organizations (Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Hezbollah, Hamas, etc.)..most of which are seen as "heroes" by the Palestinian man-on-the-street.

Comments, anyone?

My only comment is that the violence continues in that region and peace is hard to reach even with some good trys from many people.The only way that peace between Israelies and Palestinians can be reached is to erradicate those terrosists groups.

Sad news... and I agree Bill. He has only been in office for 4 weeks. It didn't take 4 weeks for our administration to stop terrorism after 9-11, so to me they are making too high of demands on him.

Abu Masul has inteernal problems as well; Yassir Arafat refuses to support him in any way, and insists HE alone speaks for the Palestinian people. Arafat, today, placed his demands that Israel unconditionally withdraw its troops and settlers from the West Bank, with no assurances of any future decrease in terrorist attacks. The Israelis won't talk until the attacks cease first.

Back to "square one", ladies and gentlemen.

I think they have fought over the same thing for years..the land..the terrorist groups are taking advantage of the situation!!! I believe if they were eradicated..it would help but not end the feud!!