Israel on the defensive

More than 1,200 have died in 17 months

By the BBC's Rachel Harvey

The pattern of attack and counter-attack is depressingly familiar.

And this latest round of violence comes just as some small hope had been kindled over a new peace proposal put forward by Saudi Arabia.

On the face of it, all outside efforts to end the conflict seem doomed to failure.

Israeli operations inside Palestinian refugee camps were condemned

And yet, both the Israeli Government and the Palestinian leadership are sensitive to international, as well as domestic, opinion.

Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority was quick to condemn Saturday's suicide bombing, although a militant group linked to his own Fatah faction said it was responsible.

The attack, in West Jerusalem, does seem to run counter to what appeared to be a new strategy on the part of Palestinian militants.

A consensus had been emerging that attacks should be restricted to the West Bank and Gaza Strip - areas occupied by Israel in 1967.

Sunday morning's attacks at Israeli checkpoints may be an attempt to reinforce that message.

Targeting Israeli civilians within Israel proper risks undermining international support for the Palestinian cause.

And that support has recently begun to swing their way. Recent Israeli military operations inside two Palestinian refugee camps were roundly condemned by the United Nations and the European Union.

The Israeli army now says it has pulled out, but 20 Palestinians were left dead.

Domestic pressure

Criticism of the Israeli tactics has also been growing domestically.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, has failed to deliver the security he promised and, for the first time, opinion polls show his approval rating falling below 50%.

But there is no sign yet that the Israeli leader is willing to change his hardline policies.

Neither side seems able to end the violence; instead both are concentrating on the most effective way to respond to each new incident.