The three Palestinian suicide bombers who touched off an 11-hour burst of overnight violence against Israelis have paralyzed a nascent peace effort and undercut the credibility and authority of the new Palestinian prime minister, whose reputation is linked to curtailing terrorist attacks, officials on both sides of the conflict said today. The suicide bombings, which killed nine Israelis and the three bombers, occurred just as Palestinians and Israelis were taking the first tentative steps toward reengaging in a long-dormant peace process. The attacks hardened the positions of both sides and brought into focus the daunting obstacles that threaten to scuttle the latest peace effort in its infancy. Not since the Palestinian uprising began 31 months ago had so many suicide bombings been set off in such a short period. Within two hours of the deadliest attack, which tore through a rush hour commuter bus in northeast Jerusalem about 6 a.m., Prime Minister Ariel Sharon postponed a planned flight to Washington today for meetings with President Bush to discuss the new peace initiative called the “road map.” Full Story
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