Tel Aviv Explosion Near Bus Kills Two, Wounds 50

A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up at a crowded suburban bus stop Sunday, killing an Israeli doctor and wounding 50 people a day after Israelis and Palestinians met in a bid to prevent such acts of violence.

Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon accused the Palestinian leadership of not doing enough to prevent such attacks, and the slim prospect of renewed security cooperation between the two sides appeared to be evaporating with the latest outburst of violence.

"The Palestinian Authority is not adhering to agreements in which it obligated itself to prevent acts of terror against Israel," Sharon said in a statement released by his office. "Israel views the Palestinian Authority as responsible for the attack."

Palestinian Cabinet minister Ziad Abu Zayyad said the Palestinian leadership condemned the attack. However, he said Sharon's government was "encouraging extremism and violence because they themselves are causing a lot of damage and casualties among Palestinian civilians."

Israeli and Palestinian security chiefs held four hours of U.S.-sponsored talks Saturday night with the aim of restoring some of the joint security efforts that have broken down during seven months of fighting.

But Sunday morning, the attacker set off the bomb just after 9 a.m. as a bus stopped to pick up passengers along a busy street in the middle-class suburb of Kfar Saba, police said.

Many victims were heading to work Sunday, the beginning of the work week in Israel. Ambulances and rescue services rushed to the scene, and police sealed off the area.

No one claimed responsibility for Sunday's bombing at the bus stop.






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