The murder of four Israeli Arabs yesterday by an Israeli in an army uniform and a yarmulke deserves to be condemned in the most unequivocal manner. And it was by the leader of the Jewish state. Prime Minister Sharon immediately denounced the killings as “a reprehensible act by a bloodthirsty Jewish terrorist.” The leader of the settlers’ council, Bentsi Lieberman, said, “Murder is murder is murder, and there can be no other response but to denounce it completely and express revulsion.”

Contrast these absolute condemnations to a recent response of the Palestinian Arab leader, Mahmoud Abbas, to terrorism against Jews. Last month, after two grandparents were shot dead by Palestinian Arab gunmen, Mr. Abbas said, “The Palestinian Authority will make every effort to stop these useless operations.” Not because murder is murder and murdering is wrong, but because they are “useless.” Because Israel doesn’t buckle to terrorism and a different tactic is needed.

The sharp difference between the responses of Messrs. Sharon and Abbas to terrorism is a rebuttal to those who would try to paint some moral equivalence between the actions of Israelis and those of Palestinian Arabs. Neither Israel nor the Palestinian Arabs are the only nation or group that has had civilians who commit terrorist attacks against its fellow citizens. America had the Oklahoma bomber, Timothy McVeigh. What’s important is how leaders respond to the terrorist attacks, setting an example to their people. Mr. Abbas has much to learn from Mr. Sharon.