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.

[r9etb]

Thanks. I've always liked Bibi -- especially since I saw him shred Larry King one evening back in '98. Smart, tough, clear-sighted, and capable of subtlety when necessary -- no wonder Clinton hated him.

[Publius6961]

It's 'H' not 'P'.

You noticed that too?
Nitwits usually have trouble spelling.

[nocommies]

klinton wasnt worthy of shining netanyahu's shoes...

[Publius6961]

When is Israel going to just kick the living sh!t out of them for once and for all???

Why blame Israel now?
The west had many opportunities to wipe this cancer from the face of the earth and neglected to do so.
The last lost opportunity was after World War I. Didn't happen.
The West has simply been too busy with more important things to see the recurring threat of these huns masquerading as pious pilgrims.

It's a world-wide task, Israel can't possibly do it alone.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

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

The group identified the bomber as Abdel-Basset Odeh, a member of its military wing Iz a Din al-Kassam Brigades from the West Bank city of Tul Karm, which is just 10 kilometers (six miles) east of Netanya.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Israel Related News

• 27-20:33 UPDATE 6-Arabs end first day of ill-tempered summit
• 27-20:33 Bush says 'cold-blooded' Mideast killing must stop
• 27-20:20 U.S. condemns suicide bombing in Israel
• 27-19:54 US seeks inquiry into killing of Hebron observers
• 27-19:50 Hamas claims Israel suicide bombing
• 27-19:40 Top Palestinian says occupation breeds 'terrorism'
• 27-19:40 UPDATE 2-Suicide bomber kills 15 in Israeli hotel
• 27-19:33 Palestinians to rejoin Arab summit after walkout
• 27-19:09 Arabic newspaper says received bin Laden e-mail
• 27-19:01 UPDATE 1-Suicide bombing kills 15, hurts 100 in Israel hotel

[dennisw]

Thanks. This is a bad day for Israel. Arafat is trying to provoke regional war before GWBush is ready to take on Iraq. I pray that Israel takes vigorous action now. I would say the IDF is very motivated at this very moment...with this heinous Passover slaughter of Jewish innocents.

[A. Pole]

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"!

< SARCASM > Sure, that is why Poland was THE FIRST country which resisted Hitler with force and paid for it with millions of dead (ethnic Poles). And that is why MOST of Jews lived IN POLAND for centuries. < /SARCASM > And if Poles are "famous" in the way your bias is, it does not come from the facts but how they are presented in media. Serbs also were against Hitler and because of media and PR working for Croats, Bosnian Muslims and Albanians, Serb became "famous" as mass murderers while their enemies who were Hitler's allies got a victim status.

And what was the gratitude and memory of American Jews toward Serbs? They invited notorious antisemite and semi-fascist Tudjman and honored him while condemning Serbs: Tudjman as an honorary guest .

[My Identity]

Britain's support of American military ventures suggests they're following their historical approach of allying Britain with the most plausible opponent to the predominant European powers

Oh, that this were true, but sadly, it is not. Britain is a goner. Britain is dead. Long live Great Britain.

[dennisw]

Israel went into TulKarm not long ago to flush out guerillas. Guerilla warfare is hard to counter but it can be done.

[Publius6961]

Believers are expected to learn the language of the Koran, and not to rely on translations.

You mean they don't embrace multi-culturalism?
The nerve!

[Publius6961]

Why do you consider killing from a safe distance morally superior? Please explain.

For the rationally challenged, no explanation is possible.
Let's just say that when the intent is there to kill civilians totally detached from hostilities, moral equivalency ceases.

Don't bother re-wording the question; I don't waste my time on grammar school debaters.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Major Bombing Attack in Israel

27-03-2002, 18:52

The Park Hotel

At least 15 killed and over 70 injured in a bombing in Israel. The attack took place at the Park Hotel in the coastal city of Netanya, north of Tel Aviv, at 7:20 Wednesday, as Israelis were sitting down to celebrate the traditional Passover dinner.

Israeli media reported that the explosion went off in the packed hotel dining room next to the lobby. Dozens of hotel guests were killed or injured, including numerous children. Eyewitnesses told news agencies that the hotel lobby had been completely destroyed in the blast.

It was not immediately clear if the blast was the work of a Palestinian suicide bomber or if a bomb had been set in place. Israeli police, fearful of the possibility that the bomber may still be at large, closed off the area.

Hotel lobby where the explosion took place

Passover is an important Jewish holiday, and Jewish families congregate in large numbers to celebrate the traditional Passover dinner together. Israeli security authorities had been understandably anxious about an attack in such circumstances, and had taken intense measures, including roadblocks and searches. These measures all turned out to be of no avail.

Netanya is an important center of tourism, offering several hotels along its Mediterranean beaches. The city has been the location of several Palestinian attacks over the past months of conflict, and lies very close to the Palestinian town of Kalkilyah. (www.albawaba.com)

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[A. Pole]

just because you came from a country where the military lacked enough discipline to enforce the obedience of orders to it's troops.

Polish soldiers were very good. They defeated Soviet Army in 1920 and stopped the Communist advance into Europe. They fought bravely ALONE against Germans in 1939 and they lost only because they were outnumbered, did not have the comparable equipment and they got attacked from the East by Soviets. Then later many Poles crossed the borders illegaly and joined Western armies. Polish units fought in Italy, in air battle for England, in Northern Africa and other places. Blind obedience is not a requirement for being a good soldier.

[r9etb]

Just an observation. Look at the name on the hotel: it is in English. Which is to say, they probably cater to Americans, and that there were probably a lot of them there.

I wouldn't be surprised if there are more than a few Americans among the injured, and that it was targeted for that reason.

[Catspaw]

I would say the IDF is very motivated at this very moment...with this heinous Passover slaughter of Jewish innocents.

I heard a Sharon spokesman (Gissan, I do believe) on MSNBC, and he was enraged. Beyond enraged. This is a high Holy Day, the equivalent (to me) is if someone walked into the local Radisson at the beginning of their very crowded Easter brunch and blew entire families to pieces.

When one of the cable news stations had on a PA spokesmouth, he said oh, how sorry he was--then launched into a 5 minute diatribe against Israel, how they were under siege, how they were being held prisoners, the same old revolting vomitus. I was yelling so loud at the tube my hubby changed the channel to preserve the TV set.

[A. Pole]

For the rationally challenged, no explanation is possible. Let's just say that when the intent is there to kill civilians totally detached from hostilities, moral equivalency ceases.

You mean like TV station in Belgrade (with comparable number of civilians casualties to the present bombing)? Or the bombing of the passenger train (also with comparable number of casualties) and followed by the lying denials and doctored films ?

[Publius6961]

What's the name of that Lebanese hotel again?