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Israel retaliates after militants bomb bus

By Saud Abu Ramadan and Joshua Brilliant

TEL AVIV, Israel, June 5 (UPI) -- Israel Defense Forces staged an offensive Wednesday afternoon in the Palestinian refugee town of Jenin after militants bombed a crowded Israeli bus during the morning rush hour, leaving at least 16 people dead and 30 wounded.

Palestinian security sources and residents of Jenin -- scene of the deadliest fighting during Israel's West Bank operations in April -- told United Press International they spotted two helicopter gunships and several tanks and armored vehicles. Several factories were destroyed, they said, adding that no injuries were reported.

Several Israeli soldiers are believed among those killed or wounded when a car bomb went off after pulling alongside the bus in northern Israel Wednesday at about 7:15 a.m.

The exact number of victims is not yet known because of the violence of the explosion and subsequent fire, which reduced the bus to a crumpled, smoldering metal frame. However, it is clearly the most deadly attack on Israel since the end of March, its launching of a major offensive into Palestinian towns of the West Bank in an effort to root out the militants responsible for such attacks and their means of inflicting them.

The military wing of the Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack via broadcast by Al Manar, a pro-Hezbollah satellite television station in south Lebanon. Hezbollah is an Islamic resistance movement.

A Channel 2 TV reporter at the scene said authorities so far counted 16 bodies and two other people died of their wounds in a hospital. Volunteer emergency workers were still collecting body parts, a number of which were wearing the green fatigues of Israeli soldiers.

At least three of the wounded people were in critical condition, hospital sources told United Press International.

An official statement released by the Palestinian Authority denounced the bombing, which took place at a highway junction southwest of the Israeli town of Afula. The statement nevertheless added the Palestinian leadership as well as its security apparatus had no links and did not know anything about the bombing attack.

"The timing of the bombing coincided with the visit of CIA Chief George Tenet," said the statement. "Accusing the Palestinian Authority and its leadership is untrue and does not base on facts."

The bomber targeted an Egged bus en route from Tel Aviv for Tiberias. The bus driver, Mikki Har'el, said it was almost full when he slowed down as he approached the Megiddo junction at 7:15 a.m.

Sharon Levinger, a soldier who had been sitting in the front right row, said he noticed a car speed up beside the bus, "and then it exploded." The blast caused the bus to turn over at least twice, he said.

A few seconds after the explosion, the bus caught fire. There were additional explosions as the fires spread. Soldiers -- many regular commuters on the route -- were on the bus headed to their units and apparently their bullets exploded.

Har'el said he jumped out the shattered window and saw soldiers "thrown against the side of the bus and the bus began to burn." He said he pulled some soldiers to the center of the road, away from the fire but added in a low voice, "Apparently some of the passengers were trapped inside the bus. The flames prevented me from going in."

A metal skeleton was all that remained of the bus as fire fighters doused the flames. The vehicle that apparently exploded was reduced to a pile of twisted and charred metal that contained only the engine and a wheel.

The attack was launched the morning after CIA Director George Tenet finished up talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders and left the country. The United States is seeking a reform in the Palestinian Authority, including changes in its security services.

Israel has continued raids into Palestinian towns and villages, rounding up suspected militants, releasing some and keeping others. Tuesday night the Israelis arrested 17 people in several places, including the village of Rumana, 3.5 miles from the Megiddo junction.

The Megiddo junction is a few miles northwest of the West Bank town of Jenin in an area of many attacks, since there is no fence between the West Bank and nearby Israeli-Arab localities. Israel is planning to build a fence in the area to limit attacks.

Har'el said Wednesday's attack was the fourth in which he has been involved on that route.

Al Manar television quoted Islamic Jihad members as saying the bombing assailant was from the area of Jenin in the West Bank. The militants said they would not release the name for fear of Israeli reprisals against the family, but added the attack was revenge for the daily Israeli army offensives as well as for the killing of Palestinians.

Islamic Jihad is a relatively small group that has carried out a number of suicide bombings in Israel in recent months. The group's stronghold is the town of Jenin and the adjacent refugee camp, scene of the deadliest fighting during Israel's recent military offensive.

(Saud Abu Ramadan reported from Gaza and Joshua Brilliant from Tel Aviv, Israel.)