Bomb On Jerusalem Bus Kills At Least 20 Same Transit Route That Was Attacked Last Sunday; Suspension Of Peace Talks Urged

A bomb exploded aboard a bus in the heart of Jerusalem today, killing at least 20 people and wounding dozens. Government leaders urged Prime Minister Shimon Peres to respond by suspending peace talks with the Palestinians.

An anonymous caller to Israel Radio’s Arabic service claimed responsibility on behalf of the Islamic militant group Hamas, which rocked Israel exactly a week ago with two deadly suicide bombings. The Feb. 25 bombings broke a six-month lull in attacks.

Bystanders booed Peres when he arrived at the bombing scene, where heavy rain drenched blood-stained pavement.

Onlookers yelled, “Peres, go home!” and, “Death to the Arabs!”

The bomb blew the sides off the bus, throwing parts of the vehicle for dozens of yards. Shredded flesh dotted the road, a witness told Israel radio.

“There were parts of bodies all over the street,” another witness told Israel radio. “All the buildings and streets were damaged in the explosion, windows shattered.”

Jerusalem police chief Arye Amit said 20 were killed. At least 15 people were taken to hospitals and at least five were in serious condition, Israel radio said.

“This is an intolerable situation,” Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert told army radio. “Jerusalem cannot tolerate it, its citizens cannot tolerate it, the state of Israel cannot tolerate it.”

Magen David Adom, Israel’s equivalent of the Red Cross, called on citizens to donate blood because of a shortage caused by the string of bombings, army radio said.

It was not immediately clear if the attack was another suicide bombing or if a bomb had been planted on the bus.

President Ezer Weizman urged the government to suspend talks with the Palestinians, and join forces with the right-wing opposition in trying to find a way to stop the terrorism. The bombings come during a bitter campaign for May 29 elections for prime minister and Parliament.

Housing Minister Benyamin BenEliezer also recommended that the peace talks stop for now, saying, “We need to respond in a very harsh manner.”

The blast came as thousands of Israeli children donned costumes for school celebrations of Purim, which begins Monday night. Education Minister Amnon Rubinstein ordered the celebrations canceled in light of the attack and instructed teachers to discuss the bombings with schoolchildren.

“We cannot celebrate while we bury our dead,” Rubinstein said.

The bomb reportedly exploded on Bus No. 18, the same route on which an explosion blew apart a bus Feb. 25, killing 26 people, including the suicide bomber. That same day, a suicide bomber also attacked a bus stop near Ashkelon, killing one Israeli and the assailant.

Israel sealed off the West Bank and Gaza Strip after last week’s attacks, barring some 60,000 Palestinians from their jobs in the Jewish state in the hope of preventing additional bombings.

Ben-Eliezer said that the closure apparently had not been enforced properly, and said he would recommend that the government seal Jerusalem’s borders.

The latest explosion further threatens public support for Peres and his peace process with the Palestinians. Last week’s bombings wiped out the lead Peres had in the polls over a hard-line challenger.

Israel was to have pulled out of the West Bank city of Hebron by the end of this month and start negotiations for a permanent settlement in May.

Peres had warned after the previous attack that he would reconsider the withdrawal from Hebron if the bombings did not stop.

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