- Title: ISRAEL/WEST BANK/JERUSALEM: LATEST REACTIONS TO SUICIDE BOMB IN HAIFA.
- Date: 5th October 2003
- Summary: (U6) HAIFA, ISRAEL (OCTOBER 4,2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. CU: SIGN OF 'MAXIM' RESTAURANT WHICH WAS GUTTED IN BLAST 0.04 2. SIDE CU: FIREFIGHTERS WAITING OUTSIDE SITE 0.15 3. GV/PAN: PAN FROM FIREFIGHTER SPEAKING ON PHONE TO BROKEN GLASS ON FLOOR AND BLOOD STAINS ON CONCRETE 0.30 4. GV: POLICEMAN ON ROOF OF RESTAURANT 0.36
- Embargoed: 20th October 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: HAIFA,ISRAEL/ RAMALLAH, WEST BANK/ JERUSALEM
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Reuters ID: LVA6UAIMARJZRFO8AUO0MZHBP44F
- Story Text: Isralei and Palestinian politicians condemn of the
suicide bombing which killed 19 at an Israeli restaurant in
Haifa.
A Palestinian suicide bomber blew up in a crowded
Israeli beach restaurant in the city of Haifa on Saturday
(October 4), killing at least 19 other people and wounding
dozens including children.
The Islamic Jihad movement said it was behind the
attack, in which the bomber struck as families sat down for
lunch on the Jewish sabbath at the Maxim restaurant, owned
by a Christian Arab and a Jewish family and frequented by
Arabs and Jews.
Police said the dead included three children and a
security guard, and that about 50 people were wounded.
Israeli media reported one of the dead children was a baby
of several months and the two others were aged three and
five.
Islamic Jihad named the bomber as Hanadi Tayseer
Jaradat, 29, from the West Bank city of Jenin. They said
she was avenging the killing of her brother and cousin,
Islamic Jihad members, by Israel in the three-year-old
Palestinian uprising for statehood.
Spokesman for the Israeli government Gideon Meir said:
"We witnessed today another horrific terror attack, which
comes from the school of incitement, hatred and terror of
the Palestinian leadership. Somehow, all these terror
attacks are happening on the sacred day for the Jews. Last
week, on the sacred week of the New Year, a seven-month old
baby was killed and today, 18 Israelis who went to enjoy a
Sabbath meal in a restaurant in Haifa were murdered by
Palestinian terrorists. It's about time that the
international community will send a clear (note: audio hit
on word "message") to the Palestinian leadership. Dismantle
the infrastructure of terror now."
The attack on the Jewish sabbath, just a day before the
start of the solemn Yom Kippur fast day, was likely to draw
public and right-wing pressure on the government to make
good its threat to "remove" Palestinian President Yasser
Arafat.
Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ahmed Qurie
condemned the blast, which dealt a new setback to a
U.S.-backed peace plan, and urged Islamic militants to halt
attacks on civilians. An Israeli spokesman said Qurie's
appeal was "too little and too late".
Palestinian President hYasser Arafat met the PLO
executive committee after the suicide bombing.
Arafat condemned the attack in a written statement,
saying the attack gave Israel a pretext to obstruct
international peace efforts and contradicted Palestinian
national interests.
Palestinian Minister of Information Yasser Abed Rabbo
called on the international community to help with the
peace process.
Rabbo said: "The Executive Committee of the PLO
condemns the attack of Haifa today. We consider that this
attack serves the policy of Sharon and his government.
Sharon wanted such an attack in order to use it as a cover
to his policies of building an Apartheid wall, around the
Palestinians territories, the policy of continuing the
settlement activities inside the Palestinian territories
and the policy of assassinations and siege around all
Palestinian cities, town and villages. We believe that it
is the task of both Palestinians and Israelis who want to
see an end to this cycle of violence to join their ranks
together in order to fight together against extremism,
terrorism, and occupation. We need at this moment the
intervention of the Security Council for sending
international forces to protect the Palestinian people in
the Palestinian territories and to enable to both sides to
resume negotations in order to reach at a peaceful
settlement."
The suicide bombing was a new blow to a stalled
U.S.-backed peace "road map". It was the first since twin
attacks killed 15 people on September 9 and the first since
Israel's cabinet decided in principle on September 11 to
"remove" Arafat.
The attack followed an increase in tension this week
after Israel decided to build a new stage of its barrier
with the West Bank which will cut deep into Palestinian
territory.
Israel and the international community have called
repeatedly for the Palestinian government to crack down on
Islamic militants who have killed hundreds of Israelis in
suicide bombings in the past three years.
The Palestinians have failed to crack down, although
reining in the militants is a condition under the road map
drafted by the United States, the United Nations, Russia
and the European Union. The Palestinians say that doing so
would risk civil war.
Israel and the United States say Arafat has fomented
violence during the Palestinian revolt, a charge he denies.
The Palestinians say it is hard to end violence when
Israel continues to track and kill militants in air strikes
and keeps in place army blockades which restrict
Palestinians' movement.
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