What ceasefire?

By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Aug 22, 2003

Yesterday Israeli helicopters fired several rockets at a car on a crowded street in a civilian area in Gaza; Israeli troops shot down two teenagers in the West Bank.

So why do this morning's newspapers tell us that Palestinian groups have decided to end the ceasefire?

I'll answer my own question: it's because Israel forces were doing pretty much what they've done all along.

This ceasefire has been phony from the beginning. Israel plainly believes that the ceasefire does not forbid attacks on Palestinian faction leaders; the Palestinian factions don't think the ceasefire should prevent them from retaliatory suicide bombings. And both sides have enough complaints to keep the fires of vengeance amply stoked for years to come.

Worry about the future of the Holy Land, yes, But don't worry about the breakdown of the ceasefire. There never was a ceasefire.