Suicide Bombings in Israel - 2003-08-12

Palestinian suicide bombers attacked Israel and the West Bank for the first time in five weeks, killing two Israelis and breaking a ceasefire declared by Palestinian extremist groups. Israeli police report that in the first attack, the bomber detonated himself outside a market in the central settlement of Rosh Ha'ayin near Tel Aviv. In this incident, at least one Israeli was killed and ten others were injured. Less than an hour later, another suicide bombing in the Jewish settlement of Ariel in the West Bank killed one Israeli and injured two others. No individual or organization has claimed responsibility for these two explosions yet. In response to the incident, Israel announced the postponement of the release of about seventy Palestinians who were supposed to be freed to bolster support for the Middle East peace plan. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stated that the continuation of violence would make the peace process impossible. However, in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the bombings should not divert the peace roadmap from its course. A rogue faction of the Fatah movement, led by Yasser Arafat, claimed responsibility for the first explosion near Tel Aviv. Hamas stated that one of its members carried out the second attack outside the Jewish neighborhood in Ariel in the West Bank.