MIDDLE EAST: Death at the Gate of Hope

MIDDLE EAST

In the Israeli town of Petah-Tikva last week, the quiet of a summer's night was suddenly shattered by the half-forgotten sound of incoming Katyusha rockets. One shell hit a hospital, killing an elderly woman patient. Two more damaged an elementary school closed for vacation. A fourth killed a five-year-old girl sitting on a porch. Next morning a spotter plane located the Russian-made rocket launcher 41 miles away near the Arab village of Deir Ballut.

For Israelis, who have been spared such incidents since last November, both the target and the timing were significant. Petah-Tikva (Gate of Hope), settled by Russian...

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