While, to the consternation of most Israelis, Shimon Peres met in Gaza with Yasser Arafat this morning, Palestinian attacks on Israeli targets continue apace. The Tarmit Outpost in the Rafiach area of southern Gaza was under attack throughout the night, culminating this morning with a bomb detonation in a tunnel under the IDF position. Three soldiers were wounded; one is in serious condition, and the others are listed in moderate condition. The Tarmit-Rafiach area is crucial to both sides, as the Palestinians have long used tunnels there for smuggling weapons and ammunition from Egypt. Shooting and grenade attacks resumed shortly thereafter.
Other violence since last night: Soldiers near Psagot, north of Jerusalem, were attacked with gunfire... Nine firebombs were thrown at an IDF position near the southern Gaza community of N\'vei Dekalim last night; no one was hurt... Gunfire was directed at a police van near Baka el-Garbiye, near northwestern Shomron... A bomb exploded near a bus carrying soldiers near Jenin in northern Shomron; no one was hurt...
Peres and Arafat appeared not to be in the best of spirits at the start of the meeting; when they were asked to shake hands for the cameras, they did so quickly and weakly. Beforehand, the Foreign Minister met with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the latter\'s Negev residence. The Prime Minister\'s Office stated that Peres and Arafat would discuss only ceasefire issues, but other reports claim that many diplomatic issues will be discussed as well. The meeting lasted just over two hours, and afterwards, neither spoke to reporters; instead, PA negotiator Saeb Erekat made a brief statement to the effect that the two sides would resume security cooperation, and that Peres and Arafat would meet again in \"a week or so.\" Previous Peres-Arafat agreements in the past months to resume security cooperation did not result in significant long-term reductions in violence.
Following this morning\'s bomb attack in Gaza, the Yesha Council called upon Prime Minister Sharon to stop the meeting between Peres and Arafat. The organization said in a statement, \"The meeting shows that the national elections were unnecessary, as the Oslo underground continues to lead the State of Israel on a path of blood and deceit.\" Yesha officials reminded Sharon that he had demanded a 48-hour period of total quiet before a meeting with Arafat - but the call fell on dear ears.
Other violence since last night: Soldiers near Psagot, north of Jerusalem, were attacked with gunfire... Nine firebombs were thrown at an IDF position near the southern Gaza community of N\'vei Dekalim last night; no one was hurt... Gunfire was directed at a police van near Baka el-Garbiye, near northwestern Shomron... A bomb exploded near a bus carrying soldiers near Jenin in northern Shomron; no one was hurt...
Peres and Arafat appeared not to be in the best of spirits at the start of the meeting; when they were asked to shake hands for the cameras, they did so quickly and weakly. Beforehand, the Foreign Minister met with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the latter\'s Negev residence. The Prime Minister\'s Office stated that Peres and Arafat would discuss only ceasefire issues, but other reports claim that many diplomatic issues will be discussed as well. The meeting lasted just over two hours, and afterwards, neither spoke to reporters; instead, PA negotiator Saeb Erekat made a brief statement to the effect that the two sides would resume security cooperation, and that Peres and Arafat would meet again in \"a week or so.\" Previous Peres-Arafat agreements in the past months to resume security cooperation did not result in significant long-term reductions in violence.
Following this morning\'s bomb attack in Gaza, the Yesha Council called upon Prime Minister Sharon to stop the meeting between Peres and Arafat. The organization said in a statement, \"The meeting shows that the national elections were unnecessary, as the Oslo underground continues to lead the State of Israel on a path of blood and deceit.\" Yesha officials reminded Sharon that he had demanded a 48-hour period of total quiet before a meeting with Arafat - but the call fell on dear ears.