Jerusalem ? Israel held off retaliating Tuesday for the deadliest Palestinian terror attack in three months, allowing a U.S. mediation effort to continue on a proposal to set up a provisional Palestinian state by next year. Assistant Secretary of State William Burns is scheduled to arrive today.

Tuesday was the first time in months that Israel did not retaliate immediately under such circumstances.

A Palestinian Cabinet minister welcomed the so-called U.S. “road map,” while Israeli leaders met to consider it.