AN ISRAELI soldier opened fire indiscriminately in Hebron's fruit and vegetable market yesterday morning, badly injuring two Palestinians and wounding four more. But he appears to have failed in his self confessed mission of ensuring that the Israeli army does not withdraw from most of the city.
Within hours of the attack, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators had resumed contacts, and the US peace negotiator, Mr Dennis Ross, said last night that a deal on the military pull out was close at hand. The incident underlined the urgency of that deal, however, and the potential for explosive conflict in the only West Bank city where Jewish settlers live - side by side with Palestinians.
Noam Friedman, a 19 year old Israeli drafted into the army seven months ago, was evidently bent on emulating Baruch Goldstein, the settler who massacred 29 Palestinians at prayer in Hebron's Cave of the Patriarchs almost three years ago, and who prompted a lengthy suspension of peace negotiations.
Friedman, who was not serving with a combat unit and was not based in the Hebron area, made his way to the city's main market, adjoining one of the Jewish settler enclaves, at about 9.45 a.m., took up a position some 20 yards from the nearest stalls, and began loosing off automatic gunfire from his army issue M-16 rifle.
As horrified shoppers, some of them wounded, scrambled for cover, a handful of Israeli troops jumped on Friedman, forced him to the ground, and wrenched his gun away from him. The gun fight was unprovoked and indiscriminate, said Lieut Avi Buskeila, the soldier who was quickest to react. As they disarmed him, he added, the only thing Friedman said was: "Don't shoot me."
Asked by reporters as he was taken away for questioning why he had gunned down innocent civilians Friedman, smiling amiably replied: "Abraham purchased the Cave of the Patriarchs for 400 shekels. No one may give it back."
With both sides only too aware of the potential for further confrontations, Israeli and Palestinian security officials worked together in Hebron to calm tempers. A seven hour curfew was imposed and, although there were several skirmishes, a tense calm was gradually restored.
The shooting was immediately condemned by Israeli politicians and by a spokesman for Hebron's 500 Jewish settlers. The Prime Minister, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, telephoned the Palestinian Authority President, Mr Yasser Arafat, to express his dismay at what they called a "criminal act", and to urge Mr Arafat to work with him to complete the Hebron accord. Ironically, it was Mr Netanyahu who sought to renegotiate the deal alter he won elections seven months ago.
Last night Mr Arafat's deputy was meeting the Israeli Defence Minister, Mr Yitzhak Mordechai, to try and tie up loose ends. Mr Arafat was said to have renewed a demand for joint security patrols at the Cave of the Patriarchs, which is set to remain under Israeli control even after the withdrawal.
"For months we have been telling the Israelis that it is we who need protection from Jewish militants," said the Palestinian security chief, Mr Jibril Rajoub. "Now it is clear who is in danger."
Friedman's parents also condemned their son's actions, and said they were praying for the recovery of those he had injured. "We have taught our children tolerance, said his mother Riva, "and respect for human life. This has hit us like a clap of thunder in a clear sky." Israeli officials said last night that Friedman had recently spent time in a psychiatric hospital.
Apart from the echoes of the Goldstein massacre, yesterday's shooting also stirred memories of the November 1995 assassination of the prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin. Like Mr Rabin's assassin Yigal Amir, Friedman was an Orthodox Jew, educated in a yeshivah (Jewish study centre) who resorted to violence in a self declared bid to halt reconciliation efforts with the Palestinians.
And as with the Rabin killing, yesterday's attack came amid a climate of high profile rabbinical opposition to the peace process. Just a few days ago a group of prominent West Bank rabbis issued a religious ruling urging soldiers not to participate in the Hebron withdrawal.
Opposition to the accord is also growing within Mr Netanyahu's own governing coalition. At least seven of the 18 cabinet ministers have publicly pledged to vote against the pull out. It is not clear whether yesterday's shooting will, persuade some of these opponents to reconsider, or lead other ministers to join them.
Agencies add:
Israel has started sea trials of a submarine that can launch commando swimmers while still submerged, a leading defence review said today in London.
Jane's Fighting Ships said the conning tower of the latest model of the Dolphin class submarine had been adapted as an exit and entrance for Special Service divers.
"Wet and dry" compartments below the conning tower had space for up to eight men, it said.