Seven killed in Israeli bus attack
Mr Sharon convened a special Cabinet meeting yesterday evening, and a senior adviser hinted strongly that Israel would take action against Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
Several Cabinet ministers have been pushing for Mr Arafat's expulsion, and the adviser, Raanan Gissin, said he expected the issue would be discussed in the Cabinet session.
"I would say that there's no reason why that (a possible expulsion) would not be raised and put on the table," Mr Gissin said. "If I will need to explain any of the difficult decisions that will be taken, if they will be taken I will have no problems."
The bus bombing came just hours after the first Israeli-Palestinian summit in nearly three years, between Mr Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. The leaders failed to narrow their differences over the "road map" plan, including who would take the first step.
Israel wants the Palestinians to begin by arresting and disarming militants, while the Palestinians say there must be parallel steps by both sides.
With Mr Sharon postponing his US trip, implementation of the plan was delayed further, since the Israeli leader has said he would only give a final response to the proposal once he has discussed his reservations with US President George W Bush.
"After the horrendous actions ... he felt it necessary to be at home, with the various discussions that need to be taking place right now," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Sofer.
Yesterday's bus bomber, disguised as an observant Jew with a skullcap and white prayer shawl, struck a few minutes before 6 am, at the beginning of rush hour on a regular work day in Israel. The blast went off in the front of the two-sectioned bus.
The gush of metal and fire tore through the driver's leg, and as he lost control of the vehicle its back end fishtailed, smashing a sidewalk bus stop shelter.
The bodies of the dead remained sitting upright in their seats, including that of a woman with short dark hair whose head slumped back and whose legs were still crossed.
Twenty passengers were wounded, including six soldiers who were on their way to their bases.
The Islamic militant group Hamas did not issue a formal claim of responsibility, but Bassem Jamil Tarkrouri, a 19-year-old Hamas supporter in the West Bank city of Hebron, was identified by relatives as the assailant. Hamas has carried out scores of bombings since the outbreak of fighting nearly 32 months ago.
Half an hour after the bus bombing, a second bomber blew himself up on the city's outskirts, apparently after he failed to penetrate road blocks set up after the first attack. No one was hurt.
Also yesterday, Israeli troops killed an 18-year-old Palestinian in the Gaza Strip. The army said troops opened fire after several Palestinians tried to place an object near an army post.
Yesterday's bombings were part of a sudden surge in Palestinian assaults four in 12 hours.
It began with a Hamas bombing in the West Bank city of Hebron on Saturday night in which a suicide bomber killed an Israeli man and his pregnant wife. Later Saturday, as Mr Abbas and Sharon were meeting, two armed Palestinians tried to attack a Jewish settlement in the West Bank and were killed by soldiers.
The attacks appeared aimed at torpedoing the peace plan.
The Palestinians have accepted the road map a three-stage prescription for ending violence quickly and setting up a Palestinian state by 2005 and the Palestinian delegation to the summit asked Mr Sharon to agree to it as well.
Mr Sharon declined, saying he wants to discuss with Mr Bush Israel's numerous reservations, including that the Palestinians bring an end to all violence. Mr Sharon and Mr Abbas are scheduled to hold more talks after the Israeli prime minister's meeting with Mr Bush. Mr Sharon's office did not announce a new travel date to Washington.
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