\"Where is Arik [PM Ariel Sharon]?\" This is the question many Israelis continued to ask today as the murderous terrorism continues throughout Israel. This morning, an Israeli husband and wife from Avnei Cheifetz were wounded lightly-to-moderately when Palestinian terrorists shot at their car near Taibe, east of Netanya. Early this evening, another attack was averted when a bus driver prevented an Arab suicide killer from boarding a public bus at the Jordan Valley\'s Mecholah junction; the terrorist blew himself up outside the bus, and no one else was hurt. Four Israelis were murdered last night, bringing the number of Oslo War victims to 282 - an average of more than one every two days.
Despite all, Prime Minister Sharon does not plan to make significant changes in his policy. He told the Likud Knesset faction yesterday, \"If someone thinks that we are going to go back and sit in Gaza, then let it be clear: That is not my position.\" The security cabinet will not convene before tomorrow, and even then, the Prime Minister\'s Office has made clear, far-reaching proposals will not be considered. Sharon also said yesterday that Israel would not dismantle the PA, but will rather deal a very strong blow to the terrorist organizations, \"in the hope that there will one day arise in the PA a leader with whom we can speak. \" He said he hopes to continue meeting with PA leaders.
On the other hand, Sharon\'s political opponent in the Likud, former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, said in response that Israel must first smash the Palestinian Authority, and thus give the message to future PA leaders that the cost of continuing the path of terrorism is the loss of their regime.
Hundreds of high school girls from the Shomron demonstrated in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv last night. They were protesting the government\'s continued \"policy of restraint.\" Friends of 14-year-old Keren Shatzky, who was murdered by a suicide terrorist on Saturday night, organized the event. Five girls are still hospitalized in Schneider Children\'s Hospital in Petach Tikvah: two in very serious condition, and three in moderate condition. The names of some of the wounded appear below.
Sharon also faces political pressures, and his broad-based government is showing signs of strain. Minister Shmuel Avitan of the 2-MK Am Echad party said he would submit his resignation today, in protest of the national budget passed by the government. The 7-seat National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu party abstained yesterday in a no-confidence vote against the government. MK Yuri Stern explained that this was a protest measure against the government\'s feeble response to terrorism: \"If this policy continues, it will lead to the collapse of the government.\" (See also next article.)
Despite all, Prime Minister Sharon does not plan to make significant changes in his policy. He told the Likud Knesset faction yesterday, \"If someone thinks that we are going to go back and sit in Gaza, then let it be clear: That is not my position.\" The security cabinet will not convene before tomorrow, and even then, the Prime Minister\'s Office has made clear, far-reaching proposals will not be considered. Sharon also said yesterday that Israel would not dismantle the PA, but will rather deal a very strong blow to the terrorist organizations, \"in the hope that there will one day arise in the PA a leader with whom we can speak. \" He said he hopes to continue meeting with PA leaders.
On the other hand, Sharon\'s political opponent in the Likud, former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, said in response that Israel must first smash the Palestinian Authority, and thus give the message to future PA leaders that the cost of continuing the path of terrorism is the loss of their regime.
Hundreds of high school girls from the Shomron demonstrated in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv last night. They were protesting the government\'s continued \"policy of restraint.\" Friends of 14-year-old Keren Shatzky, who was murdered by a suicide terrorist on Saturday night, organized the event. Five girls are still hospitalized in Schneider Children\'s Hospital in Petach Tikvah: two in very serious condition, and three in moderate condition. The names of some of the wounded appear below.
Sharon also faces political pressures, and his broad-based government is showing signs of strain. Minister Shmuel Avitan of the 2-MK Am Echad party said he would submit his resignation today, in protest of the national budget passed by the government. The 7-seat National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu party abstained yesterday in a no-confidence vote against the government. MK Yuri Stern explained that this was a protest measure against the government\'s feeble response to terrorism: \"If this policy continues, it will lead to the collapse of the government.\" (See also next article.)