Sharon: Israel Will Continue to Pursue Militants: PLUS, REUTERS' PICTURES OF 'MILITANT' BUS BOMBING

Reuters ^ | Wed June 11, 2003 02:07 PM ET

[Cinnamon Girl]

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Wednesday that Israel would continue to pursue Palestinian militants to the fullest extent while making "every effort" on peacemaking with the Palestinians.

"The State of Israel will pursue to the fullest extent the Palestinian terrorist groups and their leaders," Sharon said in a speech after 16 people were killed in a suicide bombing on a Jerusalem bus which was claimed by the militant Hamas group.

He added that Israel had a "deep commitment to make every effort to move forward with the diplomatic process which we hope will bring quiet and with God's help, peace."

[Cinnamon Girl]

Palestinian militants to the fullest extent while making "every effort" on peacemaking with the Palestinians.

Pew Foundation survey found that 80% of so called Palestinians do not believe they can have peace with Israel. So who exactly will Sharon be dealing with?

[Cinnamon Girl]

An Israeli man stands with blood on his clothes after a sucide bombing on a bus in Jerusalem June 11, 2003. A Palestinian suicide bomber killed at least 16 people and injured nearly 100 on a Jerusalem bus on Wednesday to avenge an Israeli bid to assassinate a Hamas leader; Israel struck back within minutes, killing seven. REUTERS/Gil Cohen Magen

Dead bodies are lined up in the street after a bus exploded in downtown Jerusalem, Wednesday June 11, 2003. A Palestinian suicide bomber disguised as an ultra-Orthodox Jew killed at leat 16 Israelis in a Jerusalem bus attack Wednesday and less than an hour later, Israeli helicopters unleashed rockets over Gaza City, killing two Hamas fugitives and five bystanders. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

A general view shows the scene of a suicide attack in Jerusalem.(AFP/Orel Cohen)

An Israeli policeman stands guard over a victim during a Palestinian suicide attack in Jerusalem.(AFP/Pedro Ugarte)

[swarthyguy]

So who exactly will Sharon be dealing with?

Bush?

[Cinnamon Girl]

Paramedics and police officers carry the body of a victim from the scene of an exploded bus in downtown Jerusalem Wednesday June 11, 2003. An explosion, apparently set off by a suicide bomber, ripped through a bus in downtown Jerusalem on Wednesday, killing at least sixteen and wounding dozens, police said. (AP Photo/Enric Marti)

Israeli police explosives experts work at the scene as bodies are still inside an exploded bus in downtown Jerusalem Wednesday June 11, 2003. A Palestinian suicide bomber disguised us an ultra-Orthodox Jew killed 16 Israelis in a Jerusalem bus attack Wednesday and less than an hour later, Israeli helicopters unleashed rockets over Gaza City, killing two Hamas fugitives and five bystanders.(AP Photo/ Oded Balilty)

Israeli police and paramedics evacuate a victim from the scene of an exploded bus in downtown Jerusalem Wednesday June 11, 2003. An explosion, apparently set off by a suicide bomber, ripped through a bus in downtown Jerusalem on Wednesday, killing at least fifteen people and wounding dozens, police said. (AP Photo/ Lefteris Pitarakis)

An Israeli police officer attends to a wounded victim at the scene of an exploded bus in downtown Jerusalem Wednesday June 11, 2003. An explosion, apparently set off by a suicide bomber, ripped through a bus in downtown Jerusalem on Wednesday, killing at least fifteen people and wounding dozens, police said. (AP Photo/ Lefteris Pitarakis)

A general view of the scene in downtown Jerusalem after the explosion of a bus, Wednesday June 11, 2003. A Palestinian suicide bomber disguised as an ultra-Orthodox Jew killed at leat 16 Israelis in a Jerusalem bus attack Wednesday and less than an hour later, Israeli helicopters unleashed rockets over Gaza City, killing two Hamas fugitives and five bystanders. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

Passersby treat a wounded man at the scene of an exploded bus in downtown Jerusalem Wednesday June 11, 2003. A Palestinian suicide bomber disguised us an ultra-Orthodox Jew killed 16 Israelis in a Jerusalem bus attack Wednesday and less than an hour later, Israeli helicopters unleashed rockets over Gaza City, killing two Hamas fugitives and five bystanders.(AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

[Cinnamon Girl]

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING ARE EXTREMELY VIOLENT AND EXPLICIT PICTURES OF INNOCENT HUMAN BEINGS WHO WERE MURDERED TODAY:

Two dead passengers remain on their seats, while Israeli forensics experts and police examine the scene of an exploded bus in downtown Jerusalem Wednesday June 11, 2003. An explosion, apparently set off by a suicide bomber, ripped through a bus in downtown Jerusalem on Wednesday, killing at least thirteen passengers and wounding dozens, police said. (AP Photo/Enric Marti)

Dead bodies are seen as an Israeli police explosives expert stands next to an exploded bus in downtown Jerusalem Wednesday June 11, 2003. A Palestinian suicide bomber disguised us an ultra-Orthodox Jew killed 16 Israelis in a Jerusalem bus attack Wednesday and less than an hour later, Israeli helicopters unleashed rockets over Gaza City, killing two Hamas fugitives and five bystanders.(AP Photo/ Oded Balilty)

A dead person lies on the floor as volunteers and medics try to reach an exploded bus in downtown Jerusalem Wednesday June 11, 2003. An explosion, apparently set off by a suicide bomber, ripped through a bus in downtown Jerusalem on Wednesday, killing at least fifteen and wounding dozens, police said. (AP Photo/Enric Marti)

[Tamar1973]

NEWSFLAST TO REUTERS: "Militants" attack military installations, "terrorists" attack civilians. I think this qualifies as a terroristic act. To call it anything less just shows Reuter's is anti-semitic and a poor excuse for real journalism.

[TheBattman]

I have another question....

With so much violence being hurled at Israeli citizens - what has prevented them from taking matters into there own hands? I don't know if I could contain myself if I were a whitness to such brutality - especially with as easily found targets to take my anger out on.....

[wildbill]

It's long past time for a fence to keep the wild animals out of Israeli streets.

[bluejean]

President Bush should have to study these pictures for as long as it takes - for him to get a clue. Sharon has EVERY RIGHT to defend his nation from these hell-born psychopaths. What if they were doing this in OUR cities, OUR neighborhoods? How the hell can Bush live with the dichotomy in his own mind - terrorists attack inside the U.S. = declaration of war; terrorists attack (weekly) Israel = show restraint. I am sick. Absolutely heartsick for these people.

[bruin66]

I've noticed the Israeli police wear protective neck collars, and not just vests. I've read that this is the most vulnerable spot on our GIs in Iraq. Don't we have something similar?

[rintense]

Good God... please take away the extreme and intense hatred I have for these terrorists, and deal with them with your own vengeance. Amen.

[Cinnamon Girl]

Just so you know, I used to ride the 14 bus all the time. Everyone does. It goes through down town. There were probably Americans on that bus.

[rintense]

Wow, CG. I truly feel for you. What a horrible, horrible day. Those photos should be showed on every news broadcast tonight. But they won't.

[swarthyguy]

what has prevented them from taking matters into there own hands?

The USA.

WHY?

Wishful thinking, a desire to placate the Arab regimes who wish to appease their "streets", preserve the Saudi Oil and Defence relationships tempered by over a half century of AntiSoviet cooperatipn..

[TheBattman]

I know the US has been holdling Israel as a country from official actions - what I was referring to was acts of vigilanty type justice by the citizens. The US bears no direct control over the citizens.....

[MatthewViti]

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING ARE EXTREMELY VIOLENT AND EXPLICIT PICTURES OF INNOCENT HUMAN BEINGS WHO WERE MURDERED TODAY:

PING

[Reagan Man]

Take me off your PING list.

Thanks

[Ciexyz]

I'm appalled by these pictures. And they terrify me, because if the world continues to give a pass to these Pallie terrorists, then it won't be long before we have suicide bombings in our western populations centers. Because we're reinforcing this horrible behavior by not holding the Pallies to account. Terrible, terrible.

[MatthewViti]

no problem.

[Phil V.]

June 08, 2003 - U.S. observers due, as Abbas talks with Hamas leadership

June 09, 2003 - Abbas postpones Gaza visit to meet Hamas, talks to go on

June 10, 2003 - Hamas says it will consider renewing cease-fire dialogue