The ?quiet period? came to a close on May 18, 2005 as Hamas militants fired 15 mortars from Khan Yunis at the Neve Dekalim settlement in Gaza. Israel responded by firing a missile from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at a group of militants. For three months, both sides have been abiding by an ad hoc truce aimed at giving the Palestinian and Israeli leaders time to maneuver strategically and build some trust. But, time is the one thing neither leader has.

Mahmoud Abbas (see photo left) negotiated a truce among the various terrorist groups, and Israeli responded to the ?quiet period? by not actively seeking to eliminate terrorist leaders. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (see photo below) announced he was pushing forward with the unilateral evacuation of Israeli settlements in Gaza. Both sides have radical groups posturing and preparing to make life more difficult for their leaders. Sharon not only has to deal with Palestinian mortar attacks, but also with right-wing groups staging protests, blocking roads, and participating in other civil unrest. Israeli police will take a preventive stance and will likely arrest a number of armed right-wing settlers leading up to the evacuation.