OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, 23 October — US Middle East envoy William Burns yesterday called a Palestinian attack in northern Israel that killed 14 people a blow to the goal of a Palestinian state as Israel held off retaliation.
"Yesterday’s terrorist attack against a civilian bus in northern Israel claimed by a Palestinian group with offices here in Damascus was a reprehensible act," Burns told reporters in Damascus after talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad. "It does severe damage to Palestinian interests and aspirations, it cannot be tolerated by anyone who genuinely is interested in peace," he said.
For the first time in months the Israeli military did not respond quickly to a major Palestinian attack. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is under growing pressure to prevent an escalation in fighting as the United States courts Arab countries in preparation for a possible US strike against Iraq.
Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai confirmed that US interests were being considered. "There are those (in Israel) who say that we need to react now and immediately with all power and all force," Yishai told Israel Army Radio. "On the other hand, we could cause difficulties for the Americans. If the Americans attack Iraq, it’s in our interest as well as that of the Americans."
Israeli security sources said any response to the attack would be limited to avoid damaging US preparations for a possible war on Iraq. They said the army was preparing a series of operations against Palestinian groups, including Islamic Jihad, which said two of its members carried out Monday’s bombing.
Burns, on a regional tour to provide a "roadmap" back to a peace process stalled for two years, called on both sides to exercise restraint in order to help advance toward a Palestinian state and broader regional stability.
"If we are to succeed in ending occupation, building two states and resuming progress toward comprehensive peace, it is critically important to stop the violence that has done so much to undermine legitimate Palestinian aspirations," he said. "There has been far too much suffering and bloodshed on both sides, and both sides have an obligation to make it stop."
Palestinian officials said Yasser Arafat has decided on a new Palestinian Cabinet and will present it to Parliament next week for approval. But they said Arafat had kept all but three or four ministers in their posts, and he could face a showdown with the reform-minded assembly to get the new line-up approved.
"It will be a tough battle of wills between Arafat and lawmakers next week," one official said.
Arafat’s previous 21-member Cabinet quit last month after sensing it would lose a confidence vote in Parliament. That Cabinet came under withering criticism for perceived incompetence during a two-year-old uprising for independence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and some ministers had come under attack for alleged corruption.
The United States has made creating a Palestinian state conditional on reforms to Palestinian Authority institutions, especially the security services, and a change in leadership.
Ahmed Qorei, speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), said Arafat had put off announcing the Cabinet to ensure Israel lets all 88 lawmakers to reach Ramallah for Parliament’s session from elsewhere in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Palestinians are saddled with severe travel restrictions because of an Israeli military clampdown on Palestinian-ruled areas imposed since the uprising began.