Suicide Blast Kills 3 Outside Tel Aviv 28 minutes ago

Yahoo News ^ | 12-25-2003 | ARIEL SCHALIT

[CHUCKfromCAL]

BNEI BRAK, Israel - In the first such attacks in two months, a Palestinian suicide bomber killed three bystanders at a bus stop and an Israeli helicopter killed a senior Islamic militant and four other people.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for the bombing in a call to The Associated Press, saying it came in retaliation for the killing of two of its members last week.

The group identified the bomber as Said Hanani, 18, from the village of Beit Furik, east of Nablus.

The attack occurred during rush hour at Geha, a major intersection just outside Tel Aviv where Palestinian workers routinely gather to wait for people to pick them up for odd jobs, Yossi Sedbon, Tel Aviv district police commander, told Israel's Channel 2 television.

Two women and the suicide bomber were killed immediately, and a man died later on the way to a hospital, police spokeswoman Shlomit Hertzberg said. Sixteen others were injured.

The bombing was the first since an Oct. 4 bombing at a restaurant in the northern Israeli city of Haifa that killed 21 people.

It came during renewed efforts to restart the stalled peace process and to organize a summit between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) and Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia.

Visiting the wounded at a Tel Aviv hospital, Israeli Health Minister Dan Naveh blamed Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (news - web sites) for the bombing. "Before we consider a political move, by agreement or unilateral, we must expel the terror regime of Arafat and the gang of terrorists that comes with him. This is the obligatory security step before we move on."

Yaron Lubaton said he was driving on the bridge above the bus stop when the blast went off underneath.

"I was on the way home after a day at work, looking to see my daughters. Suddenly I saw the last thing you would ever want to see. It was horrible, horrible," he told Channel 2 television.

Minutes before the attack, an Israeli helicopter fired two missiles at a car in Gaza City, killing senior Islamic Jihad militant Mekled Hamied, 30.

Residents said an Apache helicopter fired the missiles at a white Subaru driving between Gaza and the Jebaliya refugee camp Thursday evening.

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said Hameid was planning a huge attack. "In the early evening hours, the military worked to foil what I would call a mega-terror attack in the Gaza Strip (news - web sites)," he said, without elaborating.

Islamic Jihad officials said Mekled Hamied, commander of the group's military wing, was killed with four other people — two Islamic Jihad militants and two bystanders.

Hospital officials confirmed that five people died and said 14 were wounded, three seriously.

The car was completely burned black, its windows shattered. Nearby buildings in the heavily populated neighborhood were damaged.

The last time Israel used a helicopter to kill Palestinian militants was Oct. 20, when missiles killed 14 people, most of them bystanders, in the Nusseirat refugee camp. However, that attack was not a "targeted killing," since the Israelis were chasing a car carrying Palestinians who had tried to infiltrate Israel, according to the military.

During three years of violence, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have caused dozens of civilian casualties. In April, an attack killed Hamas leader Said Arabeed and eight other people. In July 2002, 15 people were killed, including nine children, in an airstrike that targeted another Hamas leader, Salah Shehadeh.

Earlier Thursday, Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian man carrying explosives toward a Jewish settlement in Gaza, the Israeli military said.

The man was spotted crawling near the Gush Katif bloc of Jewish settlements, likely planning to lay a mine, when soldiers shot him, the military said. They later discovered an explosive charge on his body, the military said.

Islamic Jihad identified the man as Mohammed Akram Al-Dosuki, 22, a member of the militant group.

[EGPWS]

The last time Israel used a helicopter to kill Palestinian militants was Oct. 20, when missiles killed 14 people, most of them bystanders, in the Nusseirat refugee camp. However, that attack was not a "targeted killing," since the Israelis were chasing a car carrying Palestinians who had tried to infiltrate Israel, according to the military.

During three years of violence, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have caused dozens of civilian casualties. In April, an attack killed Hamas leader Said Arabeed and eight other people. In July 2002, 15 people were killed, including nine children, in an airstrike that targeted another Hamas leader, Salah Shehadeh.

Sickening reporting, yea, those mean ol' Israelis who have never experienced death and destruction at the hands of militant Palestinians, just randomly go and kill innocent people without provocation....sheesh!

[ValerieUSA]

The pope needs to forget his prayer and plea for peace in the middle east, and align himself with God to defeat the evil forces. Goodness triumphs in this world not through peace, but through perseverence in battle. How good can good be if evil isn't threatened by it?

[ml/nj]

The bombing was the first since an Oct. 4 bombing at a restaurant in the northern Israeli city of Haifa that killed 21 people.

Am I the only one who is a little bit disgusted by reports such as this?

It may be the first realized bombing since October 4, but it's hardly the first attempted bombing since then.

The identity of the bomber is known. I would destroy everything and everyone within half a kilometer of where this Islamic Swine lived.

ML/NJ

[zeebee]

I would destroy everything and everyone within half a kilometer of where this Islamic Swine lived.

And lock up every one of his immediate relatives. I’m quite series about this.

[Bobby777]

I see the PFLP delivers Arafat's "Christmas" message ...

[Indie]

Why is Israel even considering giving these animals ANYthing. Expel them all and control all land taken during the war.

[tubavil]

Why is Israel even considering giving these animals ANYthing?

Why does bush want to give them their own terror-state?

[Maigrey]

Oh sad. Israelis are killed, and the reporter is whining about the loss of life for the Palistinians.

No bias there, folks!

[EGPWS]

Excellent post LindaSOG!

Well defined closing remarks for my case!

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas!

Regards,

EGPWS

[Bobby777]

"Before we consider a political move, by agreement or unilateral, we must expel the terror regime of Arafat and the gang of terrorists that comes with him."

how sad it wasn't done decades ago ... before all this carnage ...

[railsplitter]

The scene of a suicide attack at a bus station near Petakh Tikvah, on the northeastern outskirts of Tel Aviv. At least three people were killed, including the apparent suicide bomber(AFP/Yoav Lemmer)

An Israeli forensic expert checks the scene of a suicide bombing next to the remains of the suicide bomber, who exploded himself at a bus stop at a main junction close to the city of Beni Berak, near Tel Aviv(AFP/Yoav Lemmer)

An Israeli rescue worker searches the scene beside covered bodies after an explosion at a bus stop outside Tel Aviv, December 25, 2003. The militant Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said on Thursday it sent the suicide bomber who killed at least three people at the bus stop. The attack came minutes after Israeli helicopters killed a top Islamic militant and at least four people in Gaza. The actions shattered well over two months of relative calm that had spurred efforts to revive talks between Israelis and Palestinians on a U.S.-led plan for ending more than three years of conflict. Photo by Nir Elias/Reuters

The bodies of victims lie on the ground covered with blankets as police investigate at the site where a suicide bomber blew himself up at a bus stop in the town of Bnei Brak next to Tel Aviv Thursday Dec. 25, 2003. The blast killed three bystanders and injured at least 13 people. The PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) claimed responsibility for the attack.(AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Covered bodies can be seen at the site where a suicide bomber blew himself up at a bus stop in the town of Bnei Brak next to Tel Aviv Thursday Dec. 25, 2003. The blast killed three bystanders and injured at least 13 people. The PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) claimed responsibility for the attack.(AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

[railsplitter]

A plainclothes policeman covers the body of a victim at the site where a suicide bomber blew himself up at a bus stop in the town of Bnei Brak next to Tel Aviv Thursday Dec. 25, 2003. The blast killed three bystanders and injured at least 13 people. The PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) claimed responsibility for the attack.(AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Police and rescue volunteers work at the site where a suicide bomber blew himself up at a bus stop in the town of Bnei Brak next to Tel Aviv Thursday Dec. 25, 2003. The blast killed three bystanders and injured at least 13 people. The PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) claimed responsibility for the attack. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

A woman who was injured in an explosion in Petah Tikva December 25, 2003 is wheeled into a Tel Aviv hospital. A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up at a bus stop outside Tel Aviv on Thursday, killing at least three people and wounding 16, Israeli police said. ISRAEL OUT NO ARCHIVE REUTERS/Amir Meiri

An Israeli rescue worker searches the scene beside covered bodies and body parts after an explosion in Petah Tikva, December 25, 2003. A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up at a bus stop outside Tel Aviv on Thursday, killing at least three people and wounding 16, Israeli police said. ISRAEL OUT NO ARCHIVE REUTERS/Naor Rashav

A wounded female soldier is taken from the site where a suicide bomber blew himself up at a bus stop in the town Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, Thursday Dec. 25, 2003. The blast killed three bystanders and injured at least 13 people. The PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) claimed responsibility for the attack. (AP Photo/Barak Pachter)

[railsplitter]

An ultra-orthodox ZAKA Rescue and Recovery volunteer collects human remains for a proper Jewish burial, from the site where a suicide bomber blew himself up at a bus stop in the town Bnei Brak next to Tel Aviv Thursday Dec. 25, 2003. The blast killed three bystanders and injured at least 13 people. The PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) claimed responsibility for the attack. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

A wounded military person is taken into the hospital of the Israeli town of Petah Tikva on the outskirts of Tel Aviv Thursday Dec. 25, 2003. A suicide bomber blew himself up at a bus stop in the nearby town of Bnei Brak killing three bystanders and injuring at least 13 people. The PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) claimed responsibility for the attack. (AP Photo/Robi Kastro)

Israeli rescue workers search the scene beside covered bodies and body parts after an explosion in Petah Tikva, December 25, 2003. A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up at a bus stop outside Tel Aviv on Thursday, killing at least three people and wounding 16, Israeli police said. REUTERS/Nir Elias

A wounded person is taken into the hospital in the Israeli town of Petah Tikva on the outskirts of Tel Aviv Thursday Dec. 25, 2003. A suicide bomber blew himself up at a bus stop in the nearby town of Bnei Brak killing three bystanders and injuring at least 13 people. The PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) claimed responsibility for the attack. (AP Photo/Robi Kastro)

Israeli rescue workers are seen beside covered bodies and body parts after an explosion in Petah Tikva, December 25, 2003. A Palestinian suicide bomber killed three people at a bus stop near Tel Aviv on Thursday minutes after Israeli helicopters killed a top Islamic militant and at least four people in Gaza. REUTERS/Nir Elias

[railsplitter]

An Israeli rescue worker examines the scene beside covered bodies after an explosion in Petah Tikva, December 25, 2003. An explosion tore through a bus outside Tel Aviv on Thursday, killing at least three people, minutes after Israeli helicopter gunships killed a senior Islamic militant in Gaza City. REUTERS/Nir Elias

An Israeli rescue worker examines the scene beside covered bodies after an explosion in Petah Tikva, December 25, 2003. An explosion tore through a bus outside Tel Aviv on Thursday, killing at least three people, minutes after Israeli helicopter gunships killed a senior Islamic militant in Gaza City. REUTERS/Nir Elias

An Israeli rescue worker searches the scene beside covered bodies and body parts after an explosion in Petah Tikva, December 25, 2003. A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up at a bus stop outside Tel Aviv on Thursday, killing at least three people and wounding 16, Israeli police said. REUTERS/Nir Elias

[ml/nj]

Do you think any of your pictures will make into the AP's Year in Photos for 2004?

ML/NJ

[ladyinred]

They cry Peace, Peace, and there is no peace. It is not going to happen.

[railsplitter]

You make an excellent point, one that is all too familiar here at FR. The dead pali's images were included in the stories of the bombings of the Israeli bus stop, and only now are we finding images of the attack on the news services.

I went to the site that you provided in your comments. Again, very telling.

Since January past, I managed to attend 5 different "Support Our Troops" rallies and or counter-protests, aimed squarely at the protesters demonstrating against our President and or his policies, and the fact that we invaded Iraq. I was amazed at the degree and level of support displayed towards the palis. Understand, I considered the source for these utterly sympathetic, misguided, America/Israel haters/bashers: ANSWER, MOVEON, etc. How these liberals and leftists could ignore the evil actions of the palis stupified me.

Even some of the Jews are "ate up" with the same kind of ultra liberal leftist mentality that defies logic.

I'd start out with a 100:1 kill ratio, and see what effect that would have on these animals that take innocent life.

[Indie]

Why does bush want to give them their own terror-state?

That too!! It's hypocrisy. We can fight terror but we balk when Israel does. It's bull.