Sunday April 22 1:09 PM ET
Suicide Bombing Brings Uprising to Heart of Israel
By Ramit Plushnick-Masti
KFAR SABA, Israel (Reuters) - A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up at a bus stop Sunday, killing a doctor and wounding 41 people in a rush-hour blast that again brought the Palestinian uprising to the heart of Israel.
``Pieces of flesh flew over my car,'' said Katriel Aloni, who had driven some 20 yards past the bus stop when the blast rocked the Tel Aviv suburb of Kfar Saba, near the border with the West Bank.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion, which killed the bomber -- described by one witness as a young man with a computer case -- and Israeli doctor Mario Goldin, 53, who was waiting to catch a bus to his hospital.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said the Palestinian Authority (PA) bore overall responsibility for the attack because it had failed to rein in militant groups that have pledged to send suicide bombers into the Jewish state.
``The Palestinian Authority is responsible for terror and we hold it responsible also for the criminal act that happened today,'' Sharon told reporters in Jerusalem.
Tayeb Abdel Rahim, a top aide to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, countered: ``The Palestinian Authority rejects Israeli accusations that it is responsible for the explosion.''
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said the bombing must not destroy chances for dialogue with the Palestinians, who are waging a nearly seven-month-long uprising against Israeli occupation.
``We should continue to talk and to see if we can bring an end to violence,'' Peres told reporters.
Saturday evening Israeli and Palestinian security officials met at the Gaza border to discuss security coordination to prevent unrest from widening, but apparently made little progress.
``After yesterday's security meeting, one would have expected the Palestinian Authority to take action to prevent terrorist attacks and condemn the current one,'' Sharon said in a statement issued by his office.
Suicide bombings are the weapon of choice of Islamic militant groups. Human bombs may be poor and driven by a desire to avenge the killing or injury of a relative or friend. They believe they will be martyrs treated to an idyllic after-life. Guerrilla groups say there is no shortage of recruits.
Ominous Sign
In the past week violence has included Palestinian mortar bomb attacks and Israel's first major incursions into Palestinian-run Gaza since the uprising started last September with the breakdown of peace talks.
Hospital sources in Gaza said 25-year-old Madi Khalil Madi, a member of the elite Palestinian unit Force 17, died Sunday from wounds suffered in an April 17 Israeli missile attack on his position.
The death toll in the violence has now reached at least 383 Palestinians, 13 Israeli Arabs and 73 Israelis.
The bombing in Kfar Saba was an ominous sign for Israel at the start of a week when it marks its 53rd anniversary.
The Kfar Saba attack occurred about 9:10 a.m. (2:10 a.m. EDT) as a bus pulled up at a stop in the town of 75,000 people 12 miles north of Israel's main city of Tel Aviv.
Witnesses said the bomber, standing in a queue beside the bus preparing to board, deliberately waited until the driver of the Number 29 bus opened the door before detonating his bomb.
``The driver had just opened the door when there was an explosion from the side of the bus,'' said Sarit Yagen, 18, who was on the vehicle and waiting to get off.
Police said the victims of the attack were either on the bus or waiting in the queue.
Hospitals said they treated 41 people, one a 15-year-old boy in critical condition, and others with moderate to light wounds.
Some injured were carried to ambulances still clutching packed lunches and drinks they had been taking to work.
Senior officials in Hamas and Islamic Jihad, militant Islamic movements outside Arafat's control, said they supported the attack and called for more Palestinian resistance.
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