Seraphim
08-20-2003, 06:39 PM
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Israeli army tanks line up in the outskirts of the West Bank town of Ramallah Wednesday Aug. 20, 2003. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) approved a series of pinpointed military strikes, some of which could begin Wednesday evening after a suicide bomber killed 20 people and injured scores in downtown Jerusalem Tuesday. ( AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
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By KARIN LAUB, Associated Press Writer
JERUSALEM - Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas ordered the arrests Wednesday of suspects directly involved in a Hamas suicide bombing that killed 20 people, but said he would not take broader action against militant groups without the backing of Yasser Arafat (news - web sites).
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites), meanwhile, approved a series of pinpointed military strikes, some of which could begin immediately. A column of 13 Israeli tanks was seen lining up outside the West Bank town of Ramallah, where Arafat's headquarters is located. However, Israeli security officials indicated the compound would not be targeted, as it was in previous raids.
Five Americans were among those killed in the attack on a Jerusalem bus, the U.S. Embassy announced Wednesday. The bus bombing Tuesday was the deadliest attack since President Bush (news - web sites) unveiled his "road map" peace plan in May, and the tragedy was magnified by the fact that six children, ranging in age from 3 months to 15 years, were among the dead.
Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) called Abbas after the Palestinian Cabinet meeting in Gaza City and told him he expected "immediate measures to stop the deterioration," said Palestinian Information Nabil Amr. It was not clear whether Powell issued an ultimatum.
Amr said Abbas ordered the detention of militants directly linked to the attack. The Palestinian Cabinet met later to debate a clampdown on militant groups.
The Cabinet did not announce a decision, and decided to leave the final say to Arafat and top PLO officials, who were to meet later Wednesday with Cabinet ministers in Ramallah, Amr said.
Participants in the Cabinet meeting, speaking on condition of anonymity, said ministers made several proposals, including freezing the groups' bank accounts and outlawing the military wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Abbas listened to the ideas and said he would not move ahead without Arafat's backing, several of the ministers said. The prime minister also said he would demand that all security services be united under his command, and suggested he might step down if Arafat balks.
Arafat, who has been accused by Israel of involvement in terror, continues to control several of the security branches. He has repeatedly criticized Abbas in public, saying his agreements with Israel amount to very little.
Abbas' security chief, Mohammed Dahlan, arrived at the Cabinet meeting with a bulletproof vest under his blazer, the first time he was seen wearing such protection. It appeared to be an indication of growing tensions among Palestinians.
Abbas until now has shied away from confrontation with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, fearing it will spark violence between Palestinians. Instead he has tried to persuade them to halt attacks on Israelis. His decision on whether to change course could determine the fate of the "road map" plan.
Israel warned Wednesday it will resume a relentless hunt for terror suspects if Abbas does not take action, and new Israeli sweeps could trigger more Palestinian attacks. "Either they fight terror, or we do it, without compromise," said Israel's vice premier, Ehud Olmert.
For now, Israel is not planning a major military offensive, but instead will carry out several pinpoint raids against terror suspects, regardless of what the Palestinians decide, said an Israeli security official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad, along with Arafat's Fatah (news - web sites), had declared a unilateral cease-fire on June 29, but then changed the terms, saying they would avenge killings of Palestinians by Israeli troops. Before Tuesday's attacks, Hamas and Fatah renegades carried out bombings, killing two Israelis.
The Jerusalem bombing came in revenge for the killing last week of an Islamic Jihad leader, Mohammed Sidr, in an army raid in the West Bank city of Hebron. The bomber was a 29-year-old mosque preacher from Hamas and a friend of Sidr's.
The bomber struck as a bus crowded with Jewish worshippers, including many families with children, made its way from the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest shrine, to an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood in Jerusalem.
The 100th suicide bombing during nearly three years of fighting was especially horrific because the packed bus carried many large families with children. Ambulances whisked away the wounded, separating children and parents.
Hospital staff were busy tracking down the parents of wounded children who were among the few dozen people still hospitalized Wednesday. Some of the missing mothers and fathers were dead, while others were being treated at other hospitals across the city.
At a Jerusalem hospital, infant Shira Cohen lay alone in a hospital bed Wednesday, looking tiny among blankets and machines, her face red and sliced by shrapnel. Doctors would have operated to try to save her left eye, but will probably have to remove it because it took hours to find her parents — injured at another hospital — to get permission.
Israeli army tanks line up in the outskirts of the West Bank town of Ramallah Wednesday Aug. 20, 2003. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) approved a series of pinpointed military strikes, some of which could begin Wednesday evening after a suicide bomber killed 20 people and injured scores in downtown Jerusalem Tuesday. ( AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20030820/capt.sge.sdb57.200803222924.photo00.default-389x243.jpg
By KARIN LAUB, Associated Press Writer
JERUSALEM - Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas ordered the arrests Wednesday of suspects directly involved in a Hamas suicide bombing that killed 20 people, but said he would not take broader action against militant groups without the backing of Yasser Arafat (news - web sites).
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites), meanwhile, approved a series of pinpointed military strikes, some of which could begin immediately. A column of 13 Israeli tanks was seen lining up outside the West Bank town of Ramallah, where Arafat's headquarters is located. However, Israeli security officials indicated the compound would not be targeted, as it was in previous raids.
Five Americans were among those killed in the attack on a Jerusalem bus, the U.S. Embassy announced Wednesday. The bus bombing Tuesday was the deadliest attack since President Bush (news - web sites) unveiled his "road map" peace plan in May, and the tragedy was magnified by the fact that six children, ranging in age from 3 months to 15 years, were among the dead.
Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) called Abbas after the Palestinian Cabinet meeting in Gaza City and told him he expected "immediate measures to stop the deterioration," said Palestinian Information Nabil Amr. It was not clear whether Powell issued an ultimatum.
Amr said Abbas ordered the detention of militants directly linked to the attack. The Palestinian Cabinet met later to debate a clampdown on militant groups.
The Cabinet did not announce a decision, and decided to leave the final say to Arafat and top PLO officials, who were to meet later Wednesday with Cabinet ministers in Ramallah, Amr said.
Participants in the Cabinet meeting, speaking on condition of anonymity, said ministers made several proposals, including freezing the groups' bank accounts and outlawing the military wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Abbas listened to the ideas and said he would not move ahead without Arafat's backing, several of the ministers said. The prime minister also said he would demand that all security services be united under his command, and suggested he might step down if Arafat balks.
Arafat, who has been accused by Israel of involvement in terror, continues to control several of the security branches. He has repeatedly criticized Abbas in public, saying his agreements with Israel amount to very little.
Abbas' security chief, Mohammed Dahlan, arrived at the Cabinet meeting with a bulletproof vest under his blazer, the first time he was seen wearing such protection. It appeared to be an indication of growing tensions among Palestinians.
Abbas until now has shied away from confrontation with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, fearing it will spark violence between Palestinians. Instead he has tried to persuade them to halt attacks on Israelis. His decision on whether to change course could determine the fate of the "road map" plan.
Israel warned Wednesday it will resume a relentless hunt for terror suspects if Abbas does not take action, and new Israeli sweeps could trigger more Palestinian attacks. "Either they fight terror, or we do it, without compromise," said Israel's vice premier, Ehud Olmert.
For now, Israel is not planning a major military offensive, but instead will carry out several pinpoint raids against terror suspects, regardless of what the Palestinians decide, said an Israeli security official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad, along with Arafat's Fatah (news - web sites), had declared a unilateral cease-fire on June 29, but then changed the terms, saying they would avenge killings of Palestinians by Israeli troops. Before Tuesday's attacks, Hamas and Fatah renegades carried out bombings, killing two Israelis.
The Jerusalem bombing came in revenge for the killing last week of an Islamic Jihad leader, Mohammed Sidr, in an army raid in the West Bank city of Hebron. The bomber was a 29-year-old mosque preacher from Hamas and a friend of Sidr's.
The bomber struck as a bus crowded with Jewish worshippers, including many families with children, made its way from the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest shrine, to an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood in Jerusalem.
The 100th suicide bombing during nearly three years of fighting was especially horrific because the packed bus carried many large families with children. Ambulances whisked away the wounded, separating children and parents.
Hospital staff were busy tracking down the parents of wounded children who were among the few dozen people still hospitalized Wednesday. Some of the missing mothers and fathers were dead, while others were being treated at other hospitals across the city.
At a Jerusalem hospital, infant Shira Cohen lay alone in a hospital bed Wednesday, looking tiny among blankets and machines, her face red and sliced by shrapnel. Doctors would have operated to try to save her left eye, but will probably have to remove it because it took hours to find her parents — injured at another hospital — to get permission.