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Palestinians bomb Israeli schoolbus

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Monday, November 20, 2000

GAZA — Palestinians have bombed an Israeli schoolbus Gaza, killing two and injuring nine others.

Israeli military sources said a large bomb exploded near the armored schoolbus as it was traveling in Gaza near the Jewish settlement of Kfar Darom on Monday. The sources said the casualties would have been far greater had the bus not been armored.

The sources said the Palestinians detonated a series of bombs that destroyed the bus. They said three Hamas members were responsible for the attack, which included a 107 mm shell.

The casualties were identified as adults accompanying the students. The injured included soldiers who were deployed to protect the 30 schoolchildren. Five of the injured were described as being in serious condition.

A shadowy group believed linked to the PA, the Martyrs of Al Aksa, has claimed responsibility for the attack. PA Communications Minister Imad Falouji said the attack must make Israel think twice regarding the continuation of Jewish settlement in Palestinian areas.

Later, two other groups claimed responsibility in faxes sent to news organizations in Beirut and Damascus. The PA said it had nothing to do with the attack.

Israeli officials said the attack torpedoed the latest efforts to end the violence in the more than six-week-old mini-war with the Palestinian Authority. Earlier, the officials praised PA Chairman Yasser Arafat for ordering his troops to stop firing on Israeli forces.

"It's a difficult incident that dispelled the notion of calm," Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami said.

Prime Minister Ehud Barak convened his Cabinet as sources said he would probably order a military response to the Palestinian attack. The sources said the question is the choice of targets.

Officials said Arafat had been under pressure from President Bill Clinton to stop attacks. They said Clinton wants to end the conflict so he could convene a summit with Arafat and Barak at the end of December in Washington.

Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz said that within the next 10 days the military will mobilize reservists for security duties in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Monday, November 20, 2000


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