Middle East sees no peace with Sharon as elected premier

The confrontations have escalated since the leader of the Likud right-wing party, Ariel Sharon, won the Israeli race for the premiership last Tuesday. Mr. Sharon, a hardliner who masterminded the Lebanon War, won by an unprecedented majority after promising that he will restore security and bring peace. Mr. Sharon is now trying to form a government so that he can assume office. Palestinian militants have, however, called for stepping up attacks after Ariel Sharon victory. Israeli soldiers has recently killed several Palestinian gunmen who operated in that area shooting from the air and ground. In Sunday's incident a Palestinian sniper hit motorist Tsahi Sasson's head. Mr. Sasson is reported to have lost control and crashed into another car injuring three people. An ambulance rushed there and medics in steel helmets and flack jackets evacuated Mr. Sasson under fire but hospital doctors pronounced him dead. The only bright spot sees to be that high-ranking Israeli and Palestinian security officers met Sunday and agreed to reopen Gaza Airport - Israel had closed it last week after armed Palestinians killed an Israeli soldier near the Rapha border terminal.