The Power of Restraint

The despicable attack of a Palestinian suicide bomber on Israeli families about to share the traditional meal that begins Passover may well kill a Mideast peace process that was showing faint signs of life. But a display of restraint now by Israel could be a powerful signal of strength.

The bombing was the work of Hamas, a group that seeks the destruction of Israel and does not recognize the leadership of Yasser Arafat or the Palestinian Authority. The bombing, at a hotel dining room, was calculated to cause the deepest possible anger, grief and religious affront. The government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon launched an attack on Arafat’s Ramallah headquarters compound today and announced a call-up of reserves. Branding Arafat an enemy and vowing to “isolate” him is a bad portent, and some government ministers used ominous rhetoric after a Cabinet meeting. But Israel must still try to leave the truce door open.

The bombing in Netanya, on the Israeli coast, gives Arafat, the president of the Palestinian Authority, another chance to lead. Arafat condemned the murder of 20 people and the wounding of more than 100 in the bombing, but he has issued such statements after previous bloodbaths. His Thursday statement that he is ready to work for a cease-fire was welcome but insufficient, accompanied as it was by a Palestinian gunman’s attack on a West Bank settlement. If he wants to moderate an Israeli response he must at least arrest terrorists from Hamas and Islamic Jihad and order members of factions that support him, such as Fatah, to stop their own attacks.

Arafat did crack down on Palestinian attacks briefly last December, but soon the bombs and gunfire erupted again. If he is seen to act effectively against terrorists this time, it will be up to Sharon to reciprocate. The Bush administration has kept its mediator, Anthony C. Zinni, in Israel. That acknowledges the role the United States must play if there is to be any chance of quelling the violence.

Sharon should not have stopped Arafat from attending the Arab summit in Beirut, but the prime minister gained some cover for his actions now. He can say to those pressuring him from the right that he resisted Washington’s urging to let Arafat go and return freely. Arafat can tell his followers that he too has resisted pressure from Washington to stop all attacks, including on Israeli military outposts in the occupied territories, but is cracking down on Hamas and other terrorist groups because the slaughter of civilians threatens to destroy the Saudi peace initiative that Arab leaders adopted unanimously in Beirut. Arafat welcomed the Saudi proposal, and an Israeli official called it “a very interesting development, something that should be pursued.” Hamas despises the initiative because it would have Arab nations establish “normal relations” with Israel rather than seek its destruction.

A large-scale Israeli retaliation that lasts for weeks would fulfill Hamas’ objective of scuttling the peace proposal. It would not make Israelis safer.

The months of violence have increased support for extremists in the West Bank and Gaza--and in Israel. Sharon, once at the extreme right of Israeli politics, now has a big crowd to his own right. More killings will produce more hard-liners, not more security.