November 13, 1995

Long lines at token booths, confusion over the mathematics and widespread exasperation bedeviled New York City's transit system and tens of thousands of riders yesterday as an on-again, off-again fare increase went into effect, at least temporarily. The matter goes back to Federal court tomorrow. Difficult as it was yesterday, straphanger advocates and transit officials said the real crisis was expected with the start of the work week this morning as millions of subway and bus riders seeking tiny new tokens lay siege to the city's 468 subway stations. For anyone without them, a nightmare was likely.

COLETTE AVITAL is not one to look for silver linings. She is a realistic diplomat. But Ms. Avital, Israel's Consul General in New York, does think that the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin can, and should, serve as a "wake-up call" to American Jews. Especially those in New York. "Some of the extreme elements come from New York," she said the other night. "Many people tend to think those are nuts and crazies. They say, 'Let's not pay too much attention to them; it increases their importance.' But I feel that unless you recognize and deal with a problem, it can grow to larger proportions." She is, the Consul General said, deeply worried about the violent language of extremist Jews, and their influence on New York politics.

Every few years since 1984, the suitors from Rockefeller Center came calling, and every time, the nuns demurred. They were flattered. But they were not going to part with the towering, perfectly sculptured evergreen that had stood by the front door to their convent for more than half a century, blessing them with shade in summer, solace in winter and a reminder of God's deft hand in creation all year round.

The Israeli secret service, already under attack for letting an assassin approach Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin unchallenged, acknowledged today that it had received a tip last June about the confessed killer's intentions and did not follow up. The latest twist in the widening investigation of the killing and its roots in extreme religious nationalism came as more than a quarter million Israelis, the largest such gathering anyone could recall, gathered at the square where Mr. Rabin was assassinated a week ago to hear his widow declare, "The silent majority will be silent no more."

Averting a resumption of the war in the Balkans, secessionist Serbs in Croatia signed an agreement today to give up the last slice of Croatian territory under their control. The agreement, drawn up at the current peace talks in Ohio, calls on the Croatian Serbs to turn over the territory, Eastern Slavonia, to the Croatian Government during a transition period of one to two years. An international force is to be created, according to the agreement, to insure that the turnover and demilitarization of the area are accomplished on schedule.