[sneakypete]

If that was true, why after seven days of suicide bombings that the terrorists decided to stop?

They haven't stopped the bombing,only taken a temporary pause until things calm down again so it's safe for them to resume it.

[kinghorse]

The gambit is pretty simple. Punish everyone who allows the martyr brigades to operate freely. It would be very helpful if Arafat would renouce terror but apparently he won't. So there will be more suffering until more of the bandits in a lawless land are under the Israeli thumb.

Betcha they don't resume the suicide attacks if they know what's good for them. The Israelis can get pretty grouchy when mustered from their day jobs to shake down slums.