Israel and the Palestinians are engaged ina tense waiting game today after the Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat's pledge of an immediate ceasefire following the deadliest suicide bombing in Israel in years.
Israel held back from immediate retaliation for Friday night's attack at a beachside nightclub in Tel Aviv that killed 19 young people plus the bomber, but has tightened its crippling blockade on the Palestinian territories.
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President Yasser Arafat
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At a cabinet meeting today, Israel's Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon labelled Mr Arafat's call merely a "tactic" employed because of international pressure and fears of harsh reprisals, Israeli radio reported.
The attack was the latest in a string of bombings in city centres by Palestinian militants and the heavy death toll and scenes of bloody carnage stirred calls among ordinary Israelis to strike back hard.
For the first time since the explosion of violence eight months ago,Mr Arafat last night ordered his security services to implement a "total and immediate ceasefire" on Israeli targets.
"We are ready to make the utmost effort to stop the bloodbath among our people and the Israeli people, and to do whatever is necessary for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire," he said.
A coalition of 13 Palestinian factions, including Islamic militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad as well as Arafat's Fatah movement, are meeting in the Gaza Strip to discuss the call.
However, a Hamas spokesman said theintifada was unstoppable and that Hamas was "ready to provide the intifada with dozens of suicide bombers".
Mr Sharon convened a meeting today of his inner security cabinetto discuss Israel's possible response to the bombing.
He has demanded that Mr Arafat cease "incitement and terror" and arrest "all terrorists," according to a statement from his office yesterday.
Today Israelis buried some of the victims of the bombing - including two teenage sisters - which was condemned by US President George W Bush as a "heinous terrorist attack."
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US Secretary of State Colin Powell called several world leaders, including Mr Sharon and Mr Arafat, to discus the need for an immediate and unconditional cessation of violence, a State Department official said, adding that he "encouraged Arafat to take concrete steps to achieve that."
Palestinian negotiator Mr Saeb Erakat also appealed on Voice of Palestine radio for US Middle East envoy Mr William Burns to resume efforts to implement the recommendations by a committee led by former US senator Mr George Mitchell.
And Moscow also sought to step up its role, with Foreign Minister Mr Igor Ivanov condemning "criminal acts of terrorism" while calling on Israel to show patience.
AFP