Each day without progress, Middle East is closer to war

It is becoming increasingly clear that there are elements on both the Palestinian and Israeli side -- but especially in recent days on the Palestinian side -- that won't accept peace.
Most recently Israel, under heavy pressure from the United States, made concessions necessary to get back to the bargaining table, even suspending its policy of retaliating for deaths caused by terrorists, after a suicide bomber killed two Israelis in Jerusalem Thursday.
At this point, the United States is asking Israel to show more patience with terrorists than U.S. policy would allow under similar circumstances. Don't expect that to last for long.
Living in fear: Jerusalem is becoming a city under siege, with people avoiding stores, coffee shops turned into take-out only establishments and bus riders wary of anyone boarding while wearing a heavy coat.
While Americans have shown themselves to be willing to tolerate increased security at airports and in some other parts of their lives, it is difficult to imagine them accepting the almost paralyzing fear that suicide bombers have brought to the daily lives of Israelis.
There is no doubt that Israeli Prime Minister Arial Sharon is not blameless in the escalation of violence that has occurred in the second Intefadeh. We saw his visit last year to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem as unnecessary and provocative, and said so.
But under heavy U.S. pressure, Sharon's government dropped its demand for a solid week free of terrorism before returning to the bargaining table.
The Palestinian response has been disheartening.
Hamas claimed responsibility for one of the three bombings this week, the other two were claimed by the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, a militia linked to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. There is a power struggle going on within Al Aqsa. Either Arafat's calls for an end to terrorism are only window dressing, or Al Aqsa is now in the hands of people who are willing to defy him.
In either case, that does not bode well for peace in the Middle East.
Consequences: If Arafat can't or won't rein in Al Aqsa and other groups, two avenues of peace will be cut off. Vice President Dick Cheney, who has said he is willing to meet with Arafat in Egypt under certain conditions, won't do so without some sign that a truce is enforceable. And Sharon won't allow Arafat to travel outside the West Bank for a meeting of the Arab League at which a Saudi Arabian peace proposal will be discussed.
In the present standoff between the Palestinians and Israel, it is Israel that has shown itself willing to blink, if ever so slightly. It is incumbent on all Palestinians who claim they want peace to publicly condemn the suicide bombings, which at this time can only have the effect of derailing any chance of a truce.
If Arafat is sincere in wanting to end the bombings, it is time for his supporters to help him regain control of Al Aqsa. It is time for them to stop honoring as martyrs suicide bombers who indiscriminately kill innocent civilians.
Otherwise there is a growing possibility that before either side sees peace, there will be a war. No one should want that.