Suicide Bombings Rock Israel

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Suicide Bombings Rock Israel

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Suicide Bombings Rock Israel

The situation in Israel and the Palestinian region would possibly fall into a new round of circulation of violent revenge in the coming days following two deadly suicide bombing attacks on Sunday evening that shook Israel's coastal city Tel Aviv.

The Islamic Jihad, a radical Palestinian group known of its bloodless attacks against Israelis, took responsibility for the twoattacks, which have left 22 civilians dead and some 110 others wounded.

Another radical group, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades affiliated to the Arafat-led Palestinian mainstream faction of Fatah movement,also claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The double attacks took place simultaneously at about 1830 localtime (1630 GMT) at the corner of G'dud Ha'ivri and Neve She'anan streets, crowded with foreign workers near the old central bus station in the coastal city.

Two suicide bombers were also killed in the attacks.

On July 17 last year, two suicide bombers from the Jihad blew themselves up at the entrance to the Neve Sha'anan, killing four people and wounding 40 others.

Against the background of Israel's crackdown on Palestinian radical activists, the Sunday's attacks entirely broke the relevantquiet situation inside the Jewish state, which has been preparing for its general elections scheduled on Jan. 28, and an anticipated US-led war against Iraq.

During the past weeks, the Israeli army troops have obviously stepped up their military operations against the Palestinian activists in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, going on their policy of "targeted liquidation", arresting thousands of suspected of linking to terrorism, as well as demolishing houses of terrorists.

Hours after the attacks, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) vowed in a statement that it would firmly confront those who carried out the attacks and those behind them, adding that "such groups are totally neglecting the highest interests of the Palestinian people and their leadership."

"The Palestinian leadership strongly condemns the attacks and firmly stands against the crimes committed against Palestinian civilians, women and children, infrastructures and houses," the PNAsaid.

The Israeli side, however, neglecting the PNA condemnation, vowed to continue its hard policy on the Palestinians.

Ra'anan Gissin, spokesman with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, accused PNA Chairman Yasser Arafat of instigating such attacks, adding that Israel would "continue to put relentless pressure on terrorist groups."

"The Palestinian terrorist campaign of carnage has struck at innocent Israelis in Tel Aviv," said David Baker, an official at Israel's Prime Minister's Office, adding that "Israel will not yield to Palestinian terror and will fight it with a fury. ... We have no other choice."

The left-wing Labor Party's leader Amram Mitzna also condemned the attacks, saying he would change his security policy to mercilessly hit murderers and establish separation fence between Israel and the Palestinian areas in the West Bank.

Prime Minister Sharon, Foreign Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz will discuss the response to the attacks, which came some 30 days after a deadly suicide bombing attack in Jerusalem that killed 11 people.

Big explosions were heard in central Gaza City late Sunday nightwhile Israeli helicopters launched rocket attacks on Palestinian targets following the Tel Aviv bombing attacks.

It seems that the hawkish troika, from the Likud Party, would decide a massive military operation in the coming days in the Palestinian areas ahead of the general elections, in an attempt to transfer the public critical views from the party's bribery scandals to the security situation.

The Sharon-led Likud, recently stabbed by series of bribery scandals, has been facing an obvious slide in public opinion polls for the general elections.

Senior Likud leader and Knesser (parliament) member Naomi Blumenthal has been fired by Sharon from her deputy ministerial portfolio due to the bribery-related charges against her during theLikud primary elections.

Sharon's son, Omri Sharon, also was suspected of liking corruption and bribery during the party elections. Israel Police, who have collected sufficient testimony, are scheduled to question Omri in the coming days as part of their investigation of electionscorruption.

The suicide bombing attacks, analysts here said, also could pushmore Israelis to vote for hawkish political parties during the oncoming elections, and kick the left-wingers out off the competition.

The decision on military response, however, would be made in theline with the suggestion from the United States, who have been stepping up their preparation for a war against Iraq's Saddam Hussein regime.

In Washington, a White House spokeswoman said President George W. Bush condemned the attacks in the strongest possible terms as the work of people intent on derailing any moves towards peace.

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