Prime Minister Ariel Sharon learned of the fatal bus attack as he prepared to depart for meetings in the U.S. with President Bush. After conferring with aides and senior officials, he decided not to cancel his trip, explaining, \"I feel that what must be done at this time is to explain our position to the United States, and make it perfectly clear that there can be no negotiations while the violence continues.\" Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer convened senior defense officials to discuss Israel\'s response.
Prime Minister Sharon\'s spokesman Avi Pazner said last night that Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority bear the full responsibility for the bus attack. \"Despite its recent calls to extremist groups not to carry out attacks,\" Pazner said, \"the PA is using this terrorism as a means to ensure the failure of Gen. Zinni\'s peace mission.\" Many Israelis are awaiting the practical ramifications of President Bush\'s emphatic statements against all terrorists - including those who merely feed or harbor them - regarding Yasser Arafat.
The Tekumah party decided last night to recommend that the faction issue an ultimatum to Prime Minister Sharon: Either he declares that the Palestinian Authority is a terrorist entity and orders the army to take appropriate action against it, or the party will resign from the government. Tekumah MKs Tzvi Hendel and Uri Ariel are the majority in the National Union; Benny Elon of Moledet is the third MK. Together with the four MKs of Minister Avigdor Lieberman\'s Yisrael Beiteinu party, they form the 7-member National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu Knesset faction.
Prime Minister Sharon\'s spokesman Avi Pazner said last night that Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority bear the full responsibility for the bus attack. \"Despite its recent calls to extremist groups not to carry out attacks,\" Pazner said, \"the PA is using this terrorism as a means to ensure the failure of Gen. Zinni\'s peace mission.\" Many Israelis are awaiting the practical ramifications of President Bush\'s emphatic statements against all terrorists - including those who merely feed or harbor them - regarding Yasser Arafat.
The Tekumah party decided last night to recommend that the faction issue an ultimatum to Prime Minister Sharon: Either he declares that the Palestinian Authority is a terrorist entity and orders the army to take appropriate action against it, or the party will resign from the government. Tekumah MKs Tzvi Hendel and Uri Ariel are the majority in the National Union; Benny Elon of Moledet is the third MK. Together with the four MKs of Minister Avigdor Lieberman\'s Yisrael Beiteinu party, they form the 7-member National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu Knesset faction.