JERUSALEM -Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon threatened yesterday to freeze peace efforts if the Palestinian leadership does not crack down on militant groups after a weekend suicide bombing in Tel Aviv killed four Israelis and wounded dozens.
At a Cabinet meeting, Israel decided to suspend a plan to turn control of five West Bank towns over to the Palestinians and free 400 more prisoners. Those gestures were agreed upon at a Feb. 8 summit in Egypt, where Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas declared a truce.
The attack and the Israeli measures underlined the fragility of the truce and its vulnerability to violence by extremists who oppose any accommodation.
A familiar pattern appeared in danger of re-emerging: a truce, a Palestinian attack, Israeli retaliation, another Palestinian attack -and ultimately the end of the truce and rekindled violence.
Sharon charged that Syria was behind the suicide bombing at a Tel Aviv night spot Friday, killing four Israelis -the first such attack since Abbas took office in January. Syria denied the allegation.
Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group with leadership in Lebanon and Syria, claimed responsibility Saturday after first denying any connection to the bombing.
At the beginning of the weekly Cabinet meeting, Sharon said Islamic Jihad carried out the bombing on orders from its leaders in Syria.
We know this for certain
he said, although he held the Palestinian Authority responsible as well.
There will be no progress politically and I repeat no political progress
until the Palestinians carry out a determined campaign to destroy the terrorist groups and their infrastructure
Sharon said.
He warned if that is not done, Israel will have to increase its military activities that are meant to protect the citizens of Israel.
A senior military official said on condition of anonymity that Israel would not hit back for the bombing. Shin Bet security service head Avi Dichter said Israel's policy now is to pressure Abbas to crack down on the violent groups.
Sharon told Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that if Abbas continues to try to control the militants by persuasion, terrorism will continue ... and Israel cannot accept that
a statement from Sharon's office said.
They had the conversation when Rice called to offer condolences over the bombing, it said. Sharon said talks on the U.S.-backed road map peace plan could not begin unless there were active steps against terrorism.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia dismissed Sharon's warnings.
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