Lethal Israeli response fails to materialise

ISRAELI forces briefly raided the West Bank town of Bethlehem yesterday and dynamited the home of a Palestinian who blew up a Jerusalem bus. The move was far short of a large-scale reprisal customary after a deadly suicide attack.

Israel’s leadership was divided over how hard to hit back but appeared to have decided on a measured response after a meeting yesterday between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz.

In the Gaza Strip, the Islamic militant Hamas group belatedly claimed responsibility yesterday for the bombing, which killed 10 Israelis and wounded more than 50. A rival faction linked to Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement initially said it sent the bomber.