1. ONE KILLED IN SUICIDE BOMBING THIS MORNING… A security guard who challenged a suicide bomber and prevented him from entering a train station this morning is credited with saving many lives. The guard was killed and at least ten people were injured when the bomber exploded outside of the new Kfar Saba train station, near Tel Aviv, after he was prevented from entering. The killer came from the Balata refugee camp outside of Nablus. The attack was the first successful terror attempt since the beginning of the Passover holiday one week ago. During that time, police reported at least sixty would-be terror attacks that were thwarted by security services before today’s lethal blast. A full closure had been imposed on the Palestinian areas as a precaution since the holiday began.
2. PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY CABINET DEAL REACHED… A deal was finally reached between Yassir Arafat and Palestinian Authority prime minister-designate Mahmoud ‘Abbas on Wednesday, with the enabling vote of confidence in the new government expected within one week. The agreement paves the way for the formal launch of the “Road Map for Peace,” and a series of ancillary events including invitations for ‘Abbas to visit Jerusalem and Wasington; and a shopping list of “confidence building gestures” that will be offered by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Although western media are largely portraying the deal as a victory for ‘Abbas and his international supporters, local analysts opine that much of the success is Arafat’s. He retains veto power over any peace negotiations with Israel and full control over ten security and intelligence agencies, compared to only three that will be overseen by ‘Abbas. Ironically, the focus of the initial push by western nations to reorganize the Palestinian Authority was a drastic reduction in the number of security organizations operating in the PA – clearly opposite to the present result of the negotiations. More than half of the new cabinet will be hold-overs from the present government.
3. ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN CHILDREN SUFFERING POST-TRAUMATIC DISTRESS QUANTIFIED AT TAU… A new study released by Tel Aviv University reports that 64 percent of Jewish children in Israel suffer from the effects of post traumatic stress disorder – 40 percent with moderate to severe symptoms. The study focused on schoolchildren in grades 7,8 and 9 – 70 percent of whom say that their lives have been directly affected by the continuing spate of Palestinian violence that erupted in September 2000. A parallel study of Palestinian children was conducted prior to Operation Defensive Shield in which Israeli forces entered PA-controlled areas en masse in order to apprehend terrorists and locate weapons. At that time, 37 percent of Palestinian children and 50 percent of Israeli Arab children were reported to show some symptoms.
4. LAUNCH OF ROAD MAP MIGHT SIGNAL ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SHAKE-UP… Israeli political analysts are watching for signs of a potential shake-up and realignment of Ariel Sharon’s government in response to the launch of the “Road Map for Peace.” Compounded by controversial components of the Prime Minister’s list of “confidence building gestures,” some believe that Sharon’s right wing coalition partners — the National Religious Party and the National Union – might quit the government and pave the way for the Labor Party to return. The opposition shared power with Sharon’s Likud during his previous term until their withdrawal triggered new elections. Pundits believe that once the Labor leadership is convinced that Sharon’s enthusiastic support of a conciliatory attitude toward the “Road Map” is genuine, the path will be clear for the shake-up.