Suicide attack raises tensions as Gaza withdrawal continues

Israel demanded tougher action against militants and Palestinians blamed the Jewish state for an escalation in violence after a Palestinian suicide bomber targeted a bus station in Beersheba.

Two Israeli security guards were critically injured in the blast outside the southern city’s central bus station yesterday. Their action, keeping the attacker outside the station during the Sunday morning rush hour, probably prevented him from killing and wounding dozens.

Israeli media said 46 people were treated for shock.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas denounced the bombing as a “terror attack” and called on Israel to show restraint. “We condemn such attacks. We don’t accept them, and we call on everyone to refrain from retaliation,” he said.

In a statement, the official WAFA news agency quoted Abbas as linking the bombing to Israel’s arrest raid in the Tulkarem refugee camp last week, killing five Palestinians. Abbas said a February truce must be maintained “despite all the Israeli provocations”.

But Israel, in turn, demanded action from Abbas.

“Israel has taken the necessary steps to further the prospects of peace with the Palestinians,” said David Baker, an official in Sharon’s office.

“This bombing … is another indication that the Palestinian Authority must take proper steps against terror and without these steps, there will be no progress between both sides.”

Nearly 12 hours after the attack, an Islamic Jihad official claimed responsibility and said the bomber came from Beit Umar, a village near the southern West Bank city of Hebron.

The bomber crossed into Israel from the southern Hebron hills, the section of the West Bank across from Beersheba.

After a double suicide bombing killed 16 in the city a year ago, work on a separation barrier along the West Bank in that area was to be speeded up, but the line there remains largely unfortified.

Taxi driver Itzik Ohana said he was waiting for customers when he saw the bomber, a man of about 20, who had short hair and was dragging a heavy bag and sweating. The man frequently stopped to put the bag down and rest.

Ohana said he told a security guard and called the police. “While I was talking to the police there was an explosion,” he said. The bomber was killed.

During yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, defence minister Shaul Mofaz said the West Bank was becoming the focus for Israel’s war against militants.

He said Israel had made it clear that the Palestinians must fulfil their pledges to act against violent groups.

Despite the bombing, Israel pushed ahead with arrangements to complete its pullout from Gaza.

The Cabinet approved an agreement with Egypt to post 750 Egyptian border guards along the frontier between Gaza and Egypt. Israel’s parliament votes on the accord on Wednesday.

Israel has been patrolling the border, trying to prevent Palestinians from smuggling weapons and other contraband through tunnels under the border into Gaza. Deployment of the Egyptian force would allow for an Israeli pull-out, expected by the end of the year.