The deadly cycle of terrorist attack and aggressive response between Israel and the Palestinians has now escalated dangerously by drawing in Syria.
Israel insists Syria is hosting those responsible for last Saturday's dreadful suicide bombing in Haifa which killed 19 Israelis and Arabs in a popular restaurant.
The air attack on Ein Sahib Palestinian camp near Damascus is a clear violation of Syrian sovereignty, raising fears about regional stability and inter-state conflict. But it is, as ever, carefully calculated by the Israeli leadership to play into the Bush administration's policy preoccupations. Mr Bush yesterday acknowledged Israel's right to self-defence, but cautioned it to avoid actions that would add to regional tension. It was not known at this writing whether the US would veto a Syrian-sponsored Security Council motion condemning the attack.
If it does so it will be portrayed once again in the region as an unbalanced supporter of Israel. Already there is much speculation that the Israeli prime minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, has played to the hand supported by the neo-conservative hawks competing for control of policy in Washington by blaming Syria for supporting terrorist groups. They have argued the war should be taken to Syria and Iran after Iraq, which coincides with Mr Sharon's views.
But he has also deftly sidestepped pressure to kill or expel the Palestinian president, Mr Yasser Arafat, coming from a majority of the right-wing coalition he heads, by launching the attack on Syrian territory. He knows there is little or no likelihood that Syria will retaliate militarily, since it is comprehensively out-resourced by Israel. By responding in this way Mr Sharon avoids the US and other international condemnation which would certainly follow any move against Mr Arafat.
This further escalation of tension comes after Israel decided last week to continue building the fence, mainly in Palestinian territory, intended to prevent unauthorised movement into Israel from the West Bank and Gaza. It was also decided to issue tenders for extending three Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Both decisions violate the road map towards a peace agreement prepared last year by the US, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia, which has been cast aside by the latest round of violence.
Reactions to this latest atrocity and Israel's attack on Syrian territory suggest no one has faith left in the road map as a path to peace. The deeper the trouble Mr Bush gets into over Iraq at home, the less he will be willing to take firm action against Israel as an election year approaches. The EU foreign policy representative, Mr Javier Solana, yesterday reminded all concerned that "the fight against terrorism has to take place within the rule of international law". He is right, but in no position to enforce it without firm support from EU leaders. They are directly affected by increased tension in the Middle East but remain unable to do anything serious about it.