For those interested in history, the so-called "colonial setttlement bloc of Gush Etzion" began on land bought by the Jewish Agency in 1930 and was resettled several times before 1948. It was also the site of two infamous Arab massacres of Jews in 1948. There is, according to the Palestinian Authority, an international law against settling on land that belongs to you. Perhaps there should be an international law against murdering unarmed people for no reason at all. Are we sure that the Al-Aqsa brigades people checked these woemn and children to make sure they are all dangerous illegal settlers, and not, for example, just people passing through or peace workers? Come to think of it, aren't armed groups of gangsters illegal in most places?

To be sure, the Palestinian Authority condemned the action as "terror":

The Palestinian Leadership on Sunday condemned the "unjustified" extra-judicial execution of a Palestinian activist as well as the "terrorist act" of shooting dead three Israeli settlers in the West Bank, and slammed Israel's tightening of the closure it imposed on the occupied territories as
"collective punishment."

The terror attacks were not directed against the illegal Jewish settlers colonizing the illegal Jewish colonialist settlement colonies. The terror attacks killed settlers, but they were aimed at embarrassing the government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas before his trip to the United States, and at throwing a monkey wrench into any possiblity of restarting peace process. The terror was a mighty blow aimed at the Palestinian people and the prospect of Palestinian freedom.

In the pre-choreographed dance of death, everyone does their part as usual. The legal and nice Al-Aqsa Brigades killed the illegal settlers. Presumably, they checked carefully first that they are dangerous illegal settlers and not, for example, tourists or peace workers. The Palestinian Authority, for its part, crticized the Al-Aqsa brigades, but Fatah is not about to dismantle itself, so Mahmoud Abbas won't be taking any action. Abbas, who is campaigning for election, couldn't very well take action against the "heros" who killed "illegal settlers." On the other hand, since he is about to go to the United States for a visit with Mr. Bush, he couldn't very well refrain from condemning the "terrorists." Words are cheap.

The Sharon government is also facing elections, and is beset by a nucleus of right-wing supporters, angry over the disengagement, and anxious to "prove" that the attacks in the West Bank were the result of withdrawing from Gaza. Therefore, the Sharon government could not do nothing. On the other hand, really massive repression would anger the US and touch off even more violence, which can't be good in an election year, so nothing really drastic could be done.

Israel suspended all contacts with the Palestinian Authority, and responded with a rash of arrests, banning of Palestinian private cars from the roads and reinstitution of closure and checkpoints that had been relaxed. That'll show 'em. Of course, it is exactly the reaction that the bombing was intended to provoke.

Meretz/Yahad/Ya'ad leader Yossi Beilin remarked:

"This is a Pavlovian reaction. Hamas and Islamic Jihad will be rubbing their hands with satisfaction",

From his point of view, he is right too. Everyone is right of course. It is not clear why Hamas and Islamic Jihad should be happy about a "victory" for their rivals, the Fatah Al-Aqsa brigades (if the Fatah really did it), but that's what the man said. Also, while it may be a Pavlovian reaction, it is not clear what else Israel could do.

Deputy Defense Minister Ze'ev Boim got his cue to say, "In the current situation, we cannot move forward with the political process." The Israeli government should teach a parrot to say that. Really though, we could hardly expect him to say anything else in the circumstances, given that he is Ze'ev Boim. Even if he was Yossi Beilin, he would say the same thing, but it would take up several paragraphs, and you wouldn't know he said it.

Why can't we move forward with the political process? Why can't Israel declare a settlement freeze and dismantle the illegal outposts, which everyone agrees are illegal? Why can't Mr. Bush get Mahmoud Abbas to live up to his roadmap obligations, and Mr. Sharon to live up to his road map obligations?

Stay tuned for the next installment of "more of the same" in the good ole fatalistic Middle East.

Ami Isseroff