A Hamas suicide-bombing and an Israeli reiteration of firm conditions for new peace talks constituted a frosty welcome for the Bush Administration's new Middle East special envoy, who arrived in the region yesterday on a daunting mission to broker a ceasefire.
Retired Marine Corps general Anthony Zinni, despatched by Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell to try to put an end to more than 14 months of intifada conflict, flew into Tel Aviv yesterday afternoon and held immediate talks with Israeli intelligence and security chiefs.
Those same intelligence officials have recently been briefing Israeli political leaders to the effect that there is absolutely no prospect of Israel reaching a permanent accord with the Palestinian Authority so long as it is led by Mr Yasser Arafat, and that even Mr Arafat's colleagues believe he is leading his people into a dead end.
Hours before the arrival of Gen Zinni's delegation a Hamas militant killed himself and lightly injured two Israeli soldiers at an military checkpoint at the northern tip of the Gaza Strip. The attack, by Teissir al-Ajarni, a 22-year-old resident of Jebalya refugee camp, was described by Hamas as a first step in its promised campaign of attacks to avenge last week's killing by Israel of its West Bank military leader, Mahmoud Abu Hanoud. At al-Ajarni's funeral, Hamas speakers urged Mr Arafat's Authority to give new bombers "a free hand to perform their sacred duty" by carrying out further attacks.
In a further sign of the deteriorating security situation, Palestinian gunmen opened fire on the Jewish neighbourhood of Gilo on the disputed southern edge of Jerusalem - the first such shooting in weeks - and drew Israeli return fire.
Gen Zinni, who is accompanied by Undersecretary of State Mr William Burns, is to meet Israel's Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, today and Mr Arafat tomorrow.
In a clear sign of intransigence, Mr Sharon appointed a hardline former general, Mr Meir Dagan, rather than the doveish Foreign Minister, Mr Shimon Peres, to liaise with the Americans - to Mr Peres's deep dismay. Mr Sharon also made plain that he had no intention of rescinding his demand for "seven days of quiet" as a precondition for progress towards substantive peace talks - a demand the Americans say privately is unrealistic.
While Mr Sharon stressed his commitment to American proposals aimed at securing a full peace accord, he added pointedly that he hoped the American team's arrival would "hasten the start of the seven days of quiet that has been decided upon".