Three Palestinian gunman crossed the boarder into Israel Wednesday in an attack at the Karni crossing which separates the Gaza Strip from Israel. The result: six Israeli civilians were killed and five were wounded. Two of the wounded were said to be in serious condition according to Israeli sources.

A combination of terrorist groups claimed joint responsibility for the attacks including the Islamist group Hamas, the Popular Resistance and the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. Ironically, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades are affiliated with Fatah, the faction of the PLO created by the late Yasser Arafat and now led by PA president Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas had asked that 'armed resistance' be halted so peace negotiations with Israel could be initiated.

The three gunmen were killed when Israeli security forces returned fire near the Karni Terminal crossing point, a crowded commerical area.

The newly elected Abbas now faces a tremendous challenge in trying to prevent further attacks against Israel that would undermine negotiations. Under the 'Roadmap' for peace, backed by the United States, Russia and the European Union, the Palestinian Authority is to disarm and confront groups that pose a threat to Israeli security through acts of terror. Abbas has indicated a willingness to enter into negotiations with terrrorist and rejectionist groups but not to confront them militarily. Abbas fears the risk of a loss of legitamacy in the territories or at worst, a civil war between Palestinian factions.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has pledged to have Israel evacuate all Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip in 2005 as well as four settlements in the West Bank. There has been talk of coordinating the withdrawal with the Palestinian Authority to assure an orderly transition and to better coordinate the actions of the two sides. Continued acts of terror like the one this morning may jeopardize the possibility for cooperation, confidence building and therefore, peace.