Murderers of Peace

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And then, at about 8 p.m., an hour before the original deadline was to expire, Israeli special forces attacked the house in Bir-Nabala, blowing open the doors with explosives and charging inside. One Israeli soldier died in the fire fight and 12 were injured. Three kidnappers were killed and another was captured, along with an alleged accessory. According to Israeli officials, Waxman was found inside the house, bound in chains and shot by his captors at point-blank range in the neck and chest. Army sources believe Waxman was executed during the siege or just before, perhaps after the gunmen saw the special forces approach.

At a press conference later that night, Rabin continued to press his point that Arafat must assume responsibility for controlling Hamas violence. "We know the activities of these murderers were directed from Gaza," Rabin said. "The peace process depends upon how well the Palestinian authority prevents the Gaza Strip from becoming a haven for terrorists."

Even Arafat's own ministers acknowledge that the Palestinian authority could do more to rein in Hamas. Said one: "We have functioned in a way that gives the Israelis a reason not to trust us and Hamas no reason to fear us." Still, the failure of Israel's efforts to save Waxman underscores how difficult that chore is. Despite its superior firepower, an extensive intelligence network and a willingness to use draconian measures, the Israeli army was never able to subdue Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Now it expects Arafat's far less sophisticated force to achieve that goal.

Arafat is also burdened with heavy political considerations. "Already people feel that the Palestinian authority has become an instrument of the Israelis," says Ghassan Khatib, who monitors Palestinian public opinion. An all-out assault on Hamas would jeopardize its credibility further. "Is a Palestinian civil war the price of Israel's concept of peace?" the East Jerusalem newspaper An-Nahar asked in an editorial on Friday.

Nevertheless, though the drama ended fatally for Waxman, the story's other hostage -- the delicate negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians -- may yet survive. In the end, Rabin's test for Arafat did not materialize: Waxman had not been imprisoned within the Gaza Strip. In the aftermath of the saga, progress toward a full peace may be slowed as Israel insists that Arafat crack down generally on Palestinian extremists. The process was shaken, but, despite the tragedy, it was no longer imperiled. At least until the next test comes.