Israel's press sees 'stairway to hell'

Opinions differ on who bears the blame for the bombing

Israel's newspapers share the outrage at Thursday's bomb attack in central Jerusalem, but give differing assessments of where responsibility lies. While some balance the blame between the Israeli government and the Palestinians, others question how much influence Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat really has over the situation on the street.

A commentary in the Tel Aviv-based Yedi'ot Aharonot entitled "The Height of Frustration" lays the responsibility for Thursday's attack at the feet of the Israeli government.

Yesterday, Sharon reached his own Rubicon, finding himself in a situation where nothing can be resolved regardless of what he decides to do

Yoel Marcus, Ha'aretz

"The political echelon prefers to tread blood over holding political negotiations, which would entail a freeze on settlement activity and negotiations over a permanent arrangement, or launching a prolonged military operation that could bring about a regional deterioration and international intervention," Alex Fishman writes.

"What is most frustrating," he says, "is the fact that nothing will change the day after Israel punishes the Palestinian Authority."

"Unless Israel initiates some kind of policy - either in the military sense or directed at renewing the negotiations - then someone will impose solutions on it."

A commentary in the liberal daily Ha'aretz also focuses on the Israeli government, saying Mr Sharon has found himself caught in a no-win situation.

"Yesterday, Sharon reached his own Rubicon, finding himself in a situation where nothing can be resolved regardless of what he decides to do," writer Yoel Marcus says.

At the same time he condemns Palestinian attacks on civilians and laments the reaction of Islamic leaders to the violence.

Terrorism is the instrument, the Islamic Jihad is the subcontractor, but Yasser Arafat is the main party behind these terrorist attacks

Sever Plotzker

The recent Palestinian attacks have been characterised by a "passion for the indiscriminate murder of civilians," he writes.

"The tough talk and joy shown by the Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders over the murder of women and children made many Israelis hope that someone would ensure that these characters would lose their powers of speech by the end of the week," he adds.

In a separate commentary, Sever Plotzker says the "recent bloody terrorist attacks" are a "planned and deliberate military offensive by Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat against the State of Israel".

"Terrorism is the instrument, the Islamic Jihad is the subcontractor, but Yasser Arafat is the main party behind these terrorist attacks."

"Arafat desperately needs grave terrorist attacks. He needs them because they get the telephones ringing in his bureau again with world leaders at the other end of the line," he writes.

The PA chairman's condemnation of the murder of women and children was swept away by the promises made by Hamas and Islamic Jihad to send additional suicide bombers into Israel

Ma'ariv

"Although they scold Arafat and present demands, it is still preferable in his eyes to a situation when the phone doesn't ring, Mubarak turns his back on him, and US President George Bush goes to play golf in Texas."

"The Israeli Government should not give Arafat the war he so ardently desires and needs," he urges.

Moment of truth

The independent daily Ma'ariv in an editorial entitled "Moment of Truth", however, questions how much control Arafat has.

"The PA chairman's condemnation of the murder of women and children was swept away by the promises made by Hamas and Islamic Jihad to send additional suicide bombers into Israel," Oded Granot writes.

"The ferocity of hatred and desire for revenge in the Palestinian street, along with the continuing incitement broadcasts on Palestinian television, cast doubt not only on Yasser Arafat's intentions but mainly on his ability to control the street and stop the mounting terrorism."

Without the US, both sides are doomed to continue bleeding with all the world looking on.

Hemi Shalev

In a separate commentary, Hemi Shalev says "Sharon has asked us to show patience until his policy bears fruit, but time is running out and patience is also growing thin".

"One can expect to go up another step on the stairway to hell, and the circle of violence will only grow deeper, within the sickening cycle that is the reality we live in."

And he urges the US to intervene more firmly, saying it seems "without them, both sides are doomed to continue bleeding with all the world looking on".

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.