Urgent need to stop cycle of violence

THE yawning gulf between Israel and Palestine was graphically illustrated by how the respective leaders reacted to the latest atrocity in which 13 people, including nine children, were killed.

Responding to the Israeli missile strike on the home of Sheikh Salah Shahada, leader of the military wing of the militant Hamas group, Palestinian leader Yassar Arafat described it as a “massacre” whereas it was seen as a “great success” by Israel’s prime minister Ariel Sharon.

By any civilised yardstick, the latest attack was reprehensible. It has rightly been condemned as disproportionate and unjustified by the UN and the EU commission. Even US President Bush, Israel’s leading supporter, saw the attack as heavy-handed.