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Palestinian suicide bombers kills 4, wounds 60 in Israeli city

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Monday, March 5, 2001

TEL AVIV Four people were killed and more than 60 were injured in a Palestinian suicide bombing.

One of them killed in Sunday's attack was a prominent Israeli. The victim's name was not released.

Witnesses said a Palestinian suicide bomber tried to force his way into a bus in the Israeli city of Netanya. The bus drove away and the bomber blew himself up downtown. The bomber and three pedestrians were killed.

Police said the Palestinian had also tried to approach a gasoline station to detonate the bomb, which he was wearing. But the attacker saw police and then detonated his bomb.

"We are talking about not a very large bomb," a senior police official said.

It was the third bombing attack in Netanya since November 1999. Netanya is located about 15 kilometers from the West Bank.

Once again, Israeli officials raised the prospect of a military invasion of Palestinian territory. But they said such an attack must be carefully prepared and ensure that civilians are not harmed.

For his part, outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak urged restraint. "Recently, we have witnessed an increase in the scope of attacks and casualties," Barak told the Cabinet. "This reality stems from our dealings with the Palestinians. We must show stamina. Any conduct otherwise plays into the hands of the terrorists and — to a certain degree — even encourages them."

The Palestinian Authority said it was not connected to the bombing. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the adviser to PA Chairman Yasser Arafat, blamed Israel for the escalation of the six-month-old mini-war in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

But PA officials called on Palestinian gunmen to stop shooting from populated Palestinian areas toward Israeli targets. They said such attacks only invites heavy Israeli retaliation.

Monday, March 5, 2001


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