DESPERATE to prevent the complete collapse of the peace process after yet another Hamas suicide bombing yesterday, Israel's Prime Minister Shimon Peres announced a series of military moves designed to prevent future attacks, but stopped short of a direct confrontation with Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority.
Speaking after a crisis cabinet meeting, hours after a Hamas bomber had killed at least 12 Israelis and injured more than 100 people outside a Tel Aviv shopping arcade, Mr Peres announced that Israel had begun jailing with out trial suspected Hamas militants, that it would stage mass arrests to "deal with" every village from which the bombers came, that it would destroy the homes of bombers' families, and that a new task force would seek out the bombers "anywhere... in every corner".
The implication was that this task force would be empowered to enter areas, like Gaza, that have been handed over to Mr Arafat's control. Asked whether this did not constitute a breach of the Oslo accords that govern the peace process, Mr Peres replied flatly "The Oslo accords don't outlaw self defence."
Having castigated Mr Arafat after each of the four suicide bombings that have hit Israel in the past nine days, for not tackling the Islamic radicals firmly enough, Mr Peres was asked whether he had now lost faith in his Palestinian peace partner. It was preferable to have the PLO fighting terrorism and co operating with Israel, he replied, rather than seeing a return to PLO terrorism, a resumption of the Intifada uprising, and the problem of the suicide bombers on top of all that.
Mr Arafat's police force had now arrested those behind the suicide bombings in Jerusalem and Ashkelon on February 25th and the second Jerusalem bombing last Sunday, he said.
Well aware that his chances of winning reelection in May are disappearing as the credibility of the peace process suffers blow after blow, Mr Peres nevertheless put on a resolute performance. But it is unlikely that the new measures will do much to placate an Israeli public reduced to near panic by the unprecedented series of attacks, mistrustful of Mr Arafat, and shocked by the apparent ineffectuality of previous security measures such as the continuing closure order on the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Indeed, hundreds were demonstrating long into the night outside the Defence Ministry where the cabinet held its meeting, scuffling furiously with police, and screaming for Mr Peres's resignation and for "revenge, revenge".
Mr Arafat strongly condemned the latest blast, and called for cooperation to thwart further attacks. But many Israeli cabinet ministers say they no longer feel they can rely on him and there has been support for a more overt Israeli military offensive against Hamas inside the Gaza Strip a move that would reverse the peace process under which Israel relinquished Gaza to Mr Arafat's control 22 months ago.
Yesterday's bombing took place in mid afternoon, outside the Dizengoff Centre shopping arcade in the heart of Tel Aviv. The bomber, whose identity had not been established last night, apparently tried to enter the arcade, saw security guards on duty at the doors, and waited outside at a crossing near a bank. He blew himself up amid a cluster of pedestrians.
The scene at the blast, which occurred before the last of the dead from Sunday's Jerusalem bus bombing had been buried, was the now familiar picture of dislocated body parts and smashed windows, the soundtrack one of wailing and hysteria.
Hamas took responsibility for the blast and warned of more bombings unless Israel called off all efforts to track down its activists.
President Clinton urged Israel not to forsake the peace process in its hour of crisis. But Mr Peres did order a suspension of Israel's peace talks with Syria, in the light of Syria's disinclination to condemn the attacks and its continued hosting in Damascus of the Hamas leadership.
Meanwhile, four Israeli soldiers were killed and eight wounded yesterday in attacks inside the Israeli occupied "security zone" in south lebanon and northern Israel, Lebanese security officials said.