Explosion strikes hotel in Israeli resort down; paramedics report dozens of casualties

Associated Press ^ | 3-27-02

[Oldeconomybuyer]

09:40 PST JERUSALEM (AP) -- An explosion went off Wednesday evening in a hotel in the Israeli coastal resort of Netanya, and paramedics said there were dozens of casualties.

The blast came at a time when Israelis were marking the start of the weeklong Passover holiday. Many hotels cater Passover Seders -- the ritual meal that ushers in the holiday.

[Mo1]

I just heard that about a possible 2nd bomber ..

I pray not but I have a feeling this nightmare of today is far from over ..

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Ha'aretz - - Hezbollah's television station, Al Manar, reported that the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, linked to PA Chairman Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Qatar-based Al Jazeera television station reported that Hamas also took responsibility for the attack.

Police have sealed off the area to traffic and have asked people not to approach the scene. Security forces are checking how a terrorist succeeded in entering the city after security was beefed up for the holiday. A search of the area is being conducted for further explosive devices.

[P8riot]

Are we going to be gripped by the same inability to do anything more than blow up empty buildings when these muslim bombers start pulling this crap in the U.S.?

Or as A.P___ would say. "We could blow up the empty building when the terrorists are in them."

[Oldeconomybuyer]

A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up in a hotel in the Israeli coastal resort town of Netanya March 27, 2002 causing many deaths and injuries Israeli television and witnesses said. Witnesses said they saw at least seven bodies from the attack, which occurred shortly after Jews began celebrating the week-long Passover holiday at sundown. (Reuters Graphic)

[A. Pole]

You certainly have a very low opinion of the moral character of U.S pilots and seamen in that case.

No, I presume them to be IGNORANT exactly because I do not have a "very low opinion" of their "moral character". I do not expect them to be scholars and I count this as their excuse. But I assume that those who gave orders, knew better and it sheds light on their moral character.

[RnMomof7]

The Palestinan Authority had no immediate reaction

I would like to see Sharon give them something to react to..Their blood in the streets..They are heathans..that is all they understand.

[RnMomof7]

Gasp! Geraldo is in Beirut!

All the more reason:>))

[P8riot]

I assume that those who gave the orders were anti-Christian and those who obeyed them were ignorant.

Then I can assume that you are IGNORANT, because you probably have never served a day in uniform. If you had then you would know that a military organization does not vote on what actions to take. Men give orders, men obey orders, things are broken, and people die! If military organizations were a democracy maybe things would be fair, but nobody would be around to enjoy them because they would all be killed while the votes were being counted.

Military leaders make the best possible call based on the information that they have, and good or bad they live or die by their decisions.

[Catspaw]

Toss the Saudis into the mix of those who financially support the intafada....

[Ancesthntr]

Are we going to be gripped by the same inability to do anything more than blow up empty buildings when these muslim bombers start pulling this crap in the U.S.?

No. Any president that hoped to avoid impeachment, let alone be re-elected, would send in whatever force was necessary to eradicate the perpetrators and their leaders. You see, the American people don't want to practice suicide. We merely elect leaders that advise that our allies to do so, or coerce them into it if they don't wish to.

The thing I don't understand is why don't we see more personal reprisals from individuals. The Israelis are armed to the teeth, can you believe that more of them don't perform their own ambushes and shootings upon the Palis?

If I lived in Israel anywhere near the Pallies, I know where me and my Remington 700 would be - concealed, waiting to repay a very large debt. You will see more unauthorized reprisals in short order, if these hideous atrocities are not properly responded to.

Sharon: There is a time for peace and a time for war. Now ain't the former. Damn the torpedoes, damn world opinion, damn any statements by the Europenises or Colon Powell - just wipe out the Mo Fo's!

[proud to be breathing]

I was about to tell him about my nephew who's graduating from West Point this year, as a counter example of the "ignorance" - to use his phrase - of our officers, but you took care of it from the other angle. Mr A. Pole is the ignorant one.

[A. Pole]

Then I can assume that you are IGNORANT, because you probably have never served a day in uniform. If you had then you would know that a military organization does not vote on what actions to take. Men give orders, men obey orders, things are broken, and people die! If military organizations were a democracy maybe things would be fair, but nobody would be around to enjoy them because they would all be killed while the votes were being counted.

Is the soldier obeying criminal order guilty or innocent? I presume that if he is ignorant of the criminality of it he is excused. But the leader is not, even if ignorant. The leader has obligation to be knowledgable.

In a country where I grew up the common convition is that soldiers are obliged to disobey criminal orders and that for example the Germans who commited atrocities in Poland were not excused by their orders. (And in Poland almost every men was in an army since there is a general draft)

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Security sources: Attack will have far-reaching effects on PA

By Amos Harel, Ha'aretz Correspondent

Security sources said Wednesday evening that the attack on a Netanya hotel, in which at least 15 people were killed and 80 wounded, would have far-reaching consequences for the Palestinian Authority.

The sources placed the blame on the Palestinian Authority for the failure of the cease-fire mission of U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni, dispatched by President George Bush to broker a truce. "Israel responded with committment to all of Zinni's proposals," the sources said. "What happened in Netanya has changed the picture."

Ra'anan Gissin, an adviser to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon adviser, said the attack "will require us to re-evaluate our overall policy."

"We are still working to achieve a cease-fire to which we are fully committed, but if the Palestinians have decided to choose the road of terrorism... then we have to decide what measures we will take," Gissin said.

There was no immediate Palestinian comment.

Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, joining IDF paratroopers in the West Bank for the first night of Passover, is in contact with the IDF senior echelons and the Shin Bet security service and is receiving constant updates on the situation.

The decision on Israel's response to the attack is likely in the next few hours.

[A. Pole]

Mr A. Pole is the ignorant one.

How am I ignorant? I assumed the ignorance of those soldiers who obeyed criminal orders because I prefer to believe that they did not know what they were doing. Am I wrong? Were they knowledgeable in your opinion?

[My Identity]

Is there an honorable solution other than "ethnic cleansing", by which I mean "keeping all Palestinians physically away" from the Jews"? I suppose that in practical terms that means pushing/carrying the Palestinians into Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon.

Just curious...

[ksen]

Israel needs someone like Judas Maccabee in charge at a time like this.

-ksen

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Last update - 21:51 27/03/2002

At least 15 dead, 100 hurt in suicide bombing in Netanya hotel

By Haim Shadmi and Amit Ben-Aroya, Ha'aretz Correspondents, and agencies

	Emergency personnel evacuating the wounded from the Park Hotel after the attack on Wednesday. (Photo: AP)

At least 15 people were killed and over 100 were wounded when a Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up in a hotel in the coastal town of Netanya at around 7:30 P.M. Wednesday evening.

The terrorist walked into the lobby of the Park Hotel, in the center of the city, where a large number of people were participating in the Passover service, and detonated the explosive device he was wearing on his body.

Hezbollah's television station, Al Manar, reported that the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, linked to PA Chairman Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Qatar-based Al Jazeera television station reported that Hamas also took responsibility for the attack.

The wounded were taken to Laniado Hospital in Netanya, Meir Hospital in Kfar Sava and Hillel Yaffeh Medical Center in Hadera.

A total of 62 people were taken to Laniado hospital, 15 in serious condition. Of the seriously wounded, a 45-year-old man and a 5-year-old boy, both with head injuries, were later moved from Laniado to Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva.

The hotel's security guard was uninjured in the attack.

Eyewitness Pinchas Butlono, a member of the hotel staff, said that he was in the hotel elevator when he heard the blast and went to help the injured. He said that there were some 250 people at the hotel's Pesach service, which had begun at 7 P.M.

Police have detained three Arab workers, who started at the hotel a few weeks ago, and are investigating any connection between them and the attack.

The area is sealed off to traffic and people have been asked not to approach. Security forces are checking how a terrorist succeeded in entering the city after security was beefed up for the holiday.

A search of the area is being conducted for further explosive devices and suicide bombers.

Israel Police Commissioner, Shlomo Aharonishki, said it was impossible to prevent all attacks. "Even with more policemen and a broader deployment, we cannot block the centers of the cities," Aharonishki said. "This attack is more evidence of that."

Netanya Mayor Miram Feyerberg also said that preventing such attacks was impossible. "This is a city that can be infiltrated from many different directions. It's simply unbelievable," she said.

On March 9, two Palestinians opened fire on a nearby hotel, killing two people, including a baby girl, and wounding dozens of others.

Emergency numbers:
Hillel Yaffeh Medical Center:12 55 166
Laniado Hospital: 12 55 191
Meir Hospital: 12 55 199

[ken5050]

Remember that it was the Arab countries, especially SA and Jordan, that expelled all the Palestinians years ago..they were afraid of having them inc country to foment trouble.......100 million Arabs couldn't assimilate 600,000 or so Palestinians..

[besieged]

With all respect to your cool detachment and indifference... you are way off base.

In WWII, I don't remember anyone taking breaks for Christmas, New Year, or even Easter. So you bringing up a point of bombing of "christians" over Easter... what WAS your point?

As far as "the country you grew up in"... heck, the Poles were truly famous for thier wrath on the Jews the moment they had the chance! Some of the Poles anxiously waited for the Germans to arrive BECAUSE they would have a chance to "stick it to the Jews"! So, your cool detachment is a bit transparent, I am afraid. The anti-semitic ferver does not die just by moving to a different country. I am impressed with your ability to contain your joy while watching all them dirty Jews getting what they deserve!

[P8riot]

Is the soldier obeying criminal order guilty or innocent? I presume that if he is ignorant of the criminality of it he is excused.

Criminality is not at issue here. Don't come into this country calling the men and women who serve it ignorant, just because you came from a country where the military lacked enough discipline to enforce the obedience of orders to it's troops. An effective military cannot afford to tolerate insubordination to this degree, because if there are two soldiers on the battlefield, and one refuses to act because it violates his/her conscience, then both are dead. The real criminal act is the cowardice of the insubordinate one because he/she has caused the death of their comrade.