Bombing halts peace efforts

WASHINGTON -- A suicide bomber waged a deadly attack on a crowded pool hall in Israel on Tuesday, abruptly setting back Mideast peace efforts as President Bush and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon struggled at the White House to find common ground to stop Israeli-Palestinian violence.

Sharon said the attack was "proof of the true intentions of the person leading the Palestinian Authority" -- placing the blame squarely on Yasser Arafat's shoulders without mentioning his name. The prime minister cut short his visit to Washington to hurry home.

The bombing doused hopes for quickly getting the peace process on track, and an enraged Sharon raised the prospect of Israel retaliation.

"The battle is not done," Sharon declared at a televised news conference, speaking first in Hebrew, then in English. "The battle continues and will continue until all those who believe that they can make gains through the use of terrorism will cease to exist -- cease to exist," the prime minister said.

Sharon learned of the explosion during a 70-minute meeting with Bush, who offered his condolences and expressed "disgust with this wanton waste of life," an adviser said.

Bush and Sharon failed in their talks to bridge major differences, including how quickly to push for a Palestinian state, an outcome that the United States believes is essential.

The suicide attack shattered a pool hall in the Israeli city of Rishon Letzion 10 miles south of Tel Aviv, adding to the grim toll of deaths on both sides of the long Mideast dispute. The nail-studded bomb exploded at the entrance of the pool hall, killing at least 15 people.

Good news overshadowed

The attack overshadowed a glimmer of good news in the region: Israel and the Palestinians agreed to terms for ending a 36-day standoff at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. A deal there could prompt Israel to withdraw troops from Bethlehem, satisfying Bush's monthlong demand to end incursions into Palestinian cities.

At midday, Sharon cited the Bethlehem advance and others as a cause for hope. "I feel there is a chance now to start a move forward," he said. But at his evening news conference, Sharon set a different tone:

"I came here to the United States to discuss the prospect of peace and stability in the region," he said. "I came to the United States to discuss the possibility of reform in the Palestinian Authority, which are a necessary precondition to the advancements of the political process. There is no way to move forward on the political process with a terrorist and corrupt entity. "

Halfway into the meeting, Rice told the leaders that there was an explosion in the Mideast but details were sketchy. As the meeting broke up, aides were told it was a suicide bombing and informed both men.