Read how the NY Times pontificates on the Israeli "overreaction" to the relatively large terrorist attack in Gaza a couple of days ago.

In choosing to respond by cutting off all Israeli contacts with the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Sharon has become their unwitting ally.

So, (although Israel did take some military action) what the Times is saying that it's not legitimate for Israel to combat murder even with political action.

Nor can it (Israel) be expected to negotiate with Palestinian leaders who equivocate in word or deed about terrorism. But that is not the situation Israel faces, as someone as canny and experienced in these matters as Israel's prime minister, Ariel Sharon, must surely recognize.

That is not the situation Israel faces!?! When Mahmoud Abbas coddles the terrorists, how is that being an unequivocal supporter for peace?

That's why some of Mr. Abbas's words and actions in campaigning for Palestinians' votes on Sunday have been so disturbing. Rather than reject armed militants, he has clambered onto their shoulders, called them "heroes" and vowed to protect them. Rather than prepare Palestinians for compromise, he has reiterated Yasser Arafat's unachievable commitment to "the right of return" for refugees.

Many Palestinians and some Israelis brush off Mr. Abbas's declarations as campaign rhetoric...But Mr. Abbas didn't need to appeal to hard-line Palestinian opinion.

For those not following closely, Abbas was long-ago predicted to win in a landslide and if we are to believe the peace camp, terrorists and their supporters are just a small percentage of the Palestinian population.

Finally, if you think that Israel overreacyed because of one terrorist attack, then you're not paying close enough attention. See if you can count the number of successful and aborted terrorist actions that took place just in the last day or so.

1 - A fourteen-and-a-half-year-old Israeli girl was seriously wounded and three others lightly wounded by a Kassam that landed on the Gaza settlement of Sderot Saturday night.

2 - Later Saturday, the IDF identified two armed Palestinians approaching the Kissufim crossing. One was shot and killed and a search is ongoing for the second one, Channel 2 reported.

3 - Also on Saturday, a seven-year-old Israeli child was moderately wounded after a mortar shell hit a house in the Gaza settlement of Netzarim. The boy lost his arm in the blast...

4 - Palestinian sources reported that a combatant was killed on Friday night after IDF soldiers fired at three Palestinians who were spotted planting an explosive charge in the southern Gaza Strip.

5 - In other incidents, Palestinians fired at IDF posts on the Israel-Egypt border and near the Gaza settlement of Neve Dkalim.

6 - Also Saturday, Palestinian terrorists fired a mortar shell at a Gaza settlement. There were no injuries, but one house sustained damage.

7 - Three more shells hit Gush Katif overnight, causing no injuries or damage.

This is a constant, multi-front attack by the Palestinians - not some simple "cycle of violence" where one terrorist act is answered by one Israeli action.

UPDATE: Apparently, even this is a fraction of what's been going on.

The military said that in the last two weeks, attacks in Gaza increased to 100 a week from 40 a week.