There goes the neighborhood. Literally. After an eight-month-old hiatus in violence that gave way to Israel’s bitterly contested withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in seemed like mere weeks ago, the Israeli Prime Minister declared an open-ended campaign and offensive against Palestinian radicals after a suicide bomber last Wednesday blew himself up along with 5 Israelis, as well as wounding 28 others in the coastal city of Hadera.

This is in effect not only a serious blow to the already extremely fragile truce, but could be an opening salvo to its total unraveling.

Sharon said there isn't going to be a forseeable advance in peace now because of the “absolute failure of the Palestinian Authority” to reign in Palestinian militants. "Our action will be broad and will not stop until it brings about a cessation of terrorism," said Sharon.

It was a nice relatively quiet few months, despite a few expected skirmishes that dotted the truce, but for now it seems like it'll be looking like déjà vu all over again.

RTE | Reuters | Telegraph | Guardian

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