71.   Washington has defended incursions as legitimate self-defense and signaled that Sharon would have a free hand to retaliate if the bombings continued.

72.   Yeltsin made a similar announcement last week but the bombing continued anyway.

73.   Yeltsin told a meeting Friday he has demanded an explanation from Defence Minister Pavel Grachev as to why the bombing was continuing despite his order for it to stop.

74.   The Jenin operation was launched after Israel announced a new get-tough policy, vowing to seize and stay on Palestinian lands for as long as the suicide bombings continue.