JERUSALEM — As a foreign journalist, what do you say at a reception when someone informs you of another suicide bombing 45 minutes away, in Tel Aviv? Not much. You just try to commiserate as best you can.

What do you say when you are Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon addressing a group of 4000 college students — who have come to Israel for the first time, from all over the world — an hour after a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv? A mouthful.

Sharon, not known for his gregarious nature, appeared twice as somber as usual when he went ahead with his planned appearance at a Birthright Israel mega event Sunday night and broke news of the bombing to the audience.

" We see again the severe nature of the things that the state of Israel is facing. Our goal is to stop the brutal terror and to achieve calm and quiet, " Sharon told a sober crowd. " Only when the brutal terror is stopped, only then, will we be able to talk peace. All attempts to reach a ceasefire, even today, are failing due to the Palestinian leadership that continues to support, fund, and initiate terror. "

Indeed, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, which is funded by Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser Arafat’s Fatah faction, took responsibility for the deadliest terror attack in a year, one that killed more than 22 and wounded 100. Two suicide bombers, acting separately at two sites, blew themselves up just minutes apart on a pedestrian mall packed with mostly immigrant shoppers and laborers coming home from work. The attack would seem to indicate that terrorists, unable to strike successfully at " hard " targets such as government or military installations, have chosen to aim at " softer, " civilian-oriented ones with less security.

Despite the bombing, Sharon chose to go ahead with the appearance because he strongly supports Birthright Israel — an organization developed by the government, philanthropists, and organizations, both local and abroad, to familiarize Diaspora Jews with their state and encourage them to make aliyah, which refers to Jews becoming Israeli citizens. " We want you to make aliyah to Israel. Everything we are going through now is to ensure that you and your children will be able to live here in quiet, " he said. " This is indeed the land of milk and honey. We are a unique and wonderful people, a people of virtue. The answer to what we have seen today is one: our Zionist way and aliyah. We want you to come to Israel. We need you here — now, more than ever. " His support for this goal is palpable. One reception attendee noted that the only time he ever saw Sharon smile was when the prime minister was among Birthright Israel participants.

" When I look at you thousands of young people, I know that we can look forward with optimism and know that together, with you, we can fulfill all the dreams of the Jewish people, " Sharon said as he looked out at the sea of listeners, who cheered and clapped loudly to show support for him. After about 10 minutes, a small army of guards escorted Sharon to a security consultation. The prime minister is not expected to take any dramatic action — such as expelling Arafat — that will cause the situation to escalate.