Israeli go-it-alone plan looks inevitable

[Wonk]

Tue 23 March, 2004 04:37
By Mark Heinrich

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's assassination of Palestinian Islamic militant leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin is likely to escalate violence that has shelved Middle East peace talks and make an Israeli go-it-alone plan all but inevitable.

The attack showed clearer than ever that a U.S.-backed peace "road map" has been eclipsed by a combination of Palestinian militant opposition, Israeli moves to annex chunks of occupied territory and U.S. detachment during an election campaign.

(snip)

"Yassin's killing crossed a red line and could mean open war, the start of a new, very harsh, volatile cycle of attack and counter-attack," said Palestinian commentator Ali Jarbawi.

"It puts all Palestinian leaders who talk about talks with Israel in a very difficult position," he said. "It's bound to increase the popularity of all those factions who think there is no way, no opening, no point of talking to this kind of government in Israel."

more...
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=481109§ion=news

sigh...