Although the Palestinian Authority had arrested some 30 members of the PFLP, they refuse to hand them over to Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli troops advancing into six Palestinian towns have left over 40 Palestinians dead. But the Israelis have captured some PFLP members and appear to be using this as an excuse to withdraw from the Palestinian territory and bring down the violence level. The United States has criticized the Israeli movement into Palestinian territory. But Israeli president Sharon is operating in a democracy and the Israeli population is enraged as the killing of a member of the Israeli government. Sharon was elected to deal firmly with Palestinian violence. To do otherwise would risk seeing his government voted out. This could lead to an even more hard line Israeli government.