PROGRESS

Palestinians Shun Bombers to Give Peace a Chance - Wafa Amr
Unlike many Palestinian suicide bombers, Abdallah Badran was not feted with portraits pasted on town walls after he blew himself up at an Israeli nightclub on Feb. 25, killing five Israelis. "This is the first time people haven't printed posters of a bomber. It is a sign people rejected the bombing," said Palestinian politician Abdel-Fattah Hamayel.

Confronted by a loss of local community support for attacks, many militants have lost motivation to carry out more. "Badran is a martyr after all, but no one wants to adopt him or take care of his family. This is new and worrying. We now know everyone wants to give a political settlement a chance," said Ala Sanakreh, a leading Fatah militant on Israel's wanted list. "I'm a fugitive," said Mohamad Zetawi, an al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades member in Tulkarm. "In recent weeks I have felt safe enough to go back to my house and see my friends and family again. But after the Tel Aviv attack I'm back in hiding....Such an attack, criticized by all Palestinians and factions, makes one think 100 times before considering to carry out an attack these days." (Reuters)