A Palestinian suicide bomber struck outside a Tel Aviv nightclub, killing 18 and wounding over a hundred waiting to get inside. The response was, unsurprisingly, energetic. Israel put more restrictions on Palestinians entering Israeli territory. The nightclub hit was popular with immigrants from the former Soviet Union, which could have some impact on relations with, and aid from, Russia. Yasser Arafat, sensing that the high casualty toll would make the Israeli public more tolerant of severe retribution, expressed condolences and urged Palestinians to show restraint. Escalation is not favorable for the Palestinians, as the Israelis have an enormous advantage in military power. During the eight months of violence, the death toll has now reached 597 (474 of them Palestinian.) Violence continued elsewhere in the Palestinian territories, including mortar attacks against Israeli settlements.