Somewhat overshadowed by unfolding US-led attacks in Afghanistan, Israel last week embarked on what now threatens to be a large-scale military campaign of its own. At the same time voices within Israel have already begun to compare the assassination of right-wing Israeli cabinet minister Rehavam Zeevi - shot dead in a hotel in east Jerusalem - as the country's own September 11.
Israeli forces now stand poised to strike at the heart of Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority.
Many influential figures on the political right in Israel are urging Prime Minister Ariel Sharon simply to conquer all of the Palestinian Authority. Israeli newspapers are full of military scenarios that essentially consist of troops controlling the streets, tanks attacking the heart of Palestinian infrastructure, and economic measures being taken to isolate and eventually destroy Mr Arafat's governance.
Other voices within Mr Sharon's national unity coalition are, of course, calling for a calmer, less radical approach. Such people argue that Israel must, in the longer term, consider its international image. It is to be hoped that such views prevail, for, once again, the ramifications of what develops amid the seemingly intractable cycle of conflict and ephemeral peace agreements between Israel and Palestine are far-reaching. This is particularly so while the US conducts its military offensive against the Taleban and Osama bin Laden, and precarious international alliances are the only restraint to a potentially catastrophic escalation of military conflict, firstly around Afghanistan and then beyond.
Mr Sharon has indicated that Mr Arafat, the Palestinian Authority chairman, is guilty of the murder of Zeevi. This is as dangerous as it is specious. To demonise Mr Arafat in this way achieves nothing when it is now clear that his control of any of the extremist anti-Israeli groups is highly limited. And Mr Arafat's position is only weakened by such killings because it provides further evidence of his lack of authority.
It would be well if Mr Sharon paused to consider the potentially horrendous consequences of an all-out assault against the Palestinian Authority. The grievances of people drawn towards those who use Islam as a rallying cry for terrorism are manifold. But the perceived injustices suffered by the Palestinian people provide a central theme. A real will to finding a political solution and a lasting peace in Palestine would do more to undermine the calls of those who support terrorism than any number of bombs or tanks will ever do.