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Israel weighs response to attacks

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA (BAHRAIN) Jan. 6. In responding to the twin suicide bombings in Tel Aviv on Sunday, Israel has so far decided to restrain the mainstream Palestinian leadership, without launching retaliatory attacks in the Palestinian territories.

Israeli helicopters on Sunday night did target what was described as a factory in the Gaza Strip that manufactured mortar shells, but observers point out that this attack may not be connected to the Tel Aviv blasts. Twenty-three people were killed and 114 injured in the biggest strike against Israeli civilians in recent months. Not unexpectedly, the Israeli establishment has sought to pin the blame for the attack on the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade that is steered by the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction.

Israeli sources say that the militant organisation took responsibility for the attack. But Fatah on Monday denied any connection with the attack. Persisting with its effort to link the Palestinian Authority with terrorist attacks, Israel has decided to prevent Palestinian delegates from attending a mid-January international conference on West Asia in London. It has also decided to shut three Islamic academies and imposed curbs on Palestinian vehicular traffic. Besides, it has reserved the right not to transfer money to the Palestinian Authority.

Predictably, the Palestinian Authority, which has been put on the defensive, has condemned the incident and described it as a "terrorist attack." Anticipating political pressure from Israel, it has sought international intervention so that the Palestinian security forces can take action against the perpetrators of this attack.

Sunday's incident is likely to have repercussions on the upcoming Israeli election, which is being held later this month. Analysts point out that the latest attack is expected to benefit the right wing Likud party, which is seeking Israeli votes on the promise of enhancing internal security.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon's office condemned the attack, and said Israel had no choice but to fight terrorism with "a fury.'' But Israel, despite the harsh rhetoric, is unlikely to get into a retaliatory overdrive as there is considerable pressure on it from the United States against launching reprisals.

Washington does not want the Palestinian situation, which has pan-Arab implications, to worsen at this time, as it apprehends that this could divert its attention from developments in Iraq.

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