Fear tightens grip on Israelis

Three Israelis died, several were injured in Kenya

By Michael Voss BBC correspondent in Jerusalem

It was meant to be Ariel Sharon's night of celebration.

Israel's Prime Minister had stormed to victory in Likud party primary elections, easily defeating the challenge of the former prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

But the race for the party leadership was overshadowed by the killings at home and abroad.

Fear has become an everyday part of life here. But for those who could afford it, there was always the prospect a holiday abroad to escape

In a sombre acceptance speech, which began with a minute's silence, Mr Sharon pledged to track down those responsible.

"Israel will hunt down those who spilled the blood of its citizens. No one will emerge unscathed . . . Our long arm will catch the attackers and those who dispatch them."

Fear has become an everyday part of life here. But for those who could afford to, there was always the prospect a holiday abroad to escape the pressures.

All-pervasive

The attacks in Mombasa are likely to have a profound impact, showing that there is no escape after all.

Not since a Jewish community centre was blown up in Argentina in 1994 have Israelis been targets abroad.

Missiles targeted an Israeli holiday plane, but failed to hit it

The unprecedented levels of violence seen since the Palestinian uprising began two years ago, have claimed the lives of almost 700 Israelis and 1,700 Palestinians - soldiers and civilians, men, women and children on both sides.

The 85 suicide bombings of the past two years have had a deep impact.

Everyday events such as getting on a bus, going shopping, walking down a street or sitting in a cafe or restaurant - all leave people feeling nervous.

An opinion poll in Friday's Jerusalem Post suggests that 69% of Israeli families are afraid they or their families will be hurt by terrorism.

Rising patriotism

And this poll was conducted a month ago, before this latest wave of violence.

It also suggests that since the outbreak of violence two years ago, Israelis have become more patriotic and more militant.

This is a factor which helps explain the continuing support for Ariel Sharon.

He may have failed to deliver on his promise at the last general election of making Israel a safer place by cracking down militarily on the Palestinians.

Israeli survivors, including the injured, were swiftly flown home

But every new suicide bombing appears to harden public opinion in favour of military rather than political solutions.

Now the foreign intelligence service, Mossad, has been asked to head the investigation into the Kenyan attacks.

Ariel Sharon's speech suggests that Mossad will be given a green light to take whatever action it deems necessary.

The agency now has a new leader and there has been a significant recruitment drive over the past 18 months, including newspaper ads.

Recent reports in the Israeli press suggest that the organisation is getting back on its feet again.

Already, though, questions are being asked about why Israeli intelligence and Western agencies - such as Britain's MI6 or the US Central Intelligence Agency - failed to pick up on Australia's warning to its citizens earlier this month to stay away from Kenya - and specifically Mombasa.