Monday, November 4, in central Israel, Israel Radio said, shortly after two Palestinians were reportedly killed by Israeli forces.
The blast at an electronics store in Kfar Saba near Tel Aviv came as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon battled for his political future but narrowly survived three no-confidence votes in Israel’s Parliament, where he rejected calls for early elections.
Monday’s attack, which also wounded 15 people including two infants, was likely to increase pressure on Sharon to improve security in Israel, where citizens are rapidly losing hope that peace will be achieved.
Witnesses of the 81st suicide attack since 2000 described a horrific scene. "I went into the mall and in a passageway there was the guy who blew up, in a pool of his own blood," a witness named as Ron, told Israel Radio.
David Baker, an official in Prime Minister Sharon’s office, was quoted by The Associated Press as saying the blast was "proof that Palestinian terror knows no limits, specializes in cruelty and specifically targets the innocent."
ISLAMIC JIHAD RESPONSIBLE
The militant Palestinian group Islamic Jihad, which carried out dozens of attacks since 2000, claimed responsibility for the bombing as it opposes any peace with Israel.
But Palestinians suffered as well Monday, November 4, when in the West Bank city of Nablus two Palestinians, including one Hamas militant, died when their car exploded in the middle of the street.
Moeen Sakaran, chief of Palestinian intelligence in Nablus, said the car was booby-trapped and that the bomb was detonated by remote control. Palestinians blamed the attack on Israel.
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
Although the Israeli authorities have defended tough military actions to battle terrorism, the human rights group Amnesty International blamed Israel on Monday, November 4, for what it said were "serious human rights violations" in Palestinian territories.
In a statement, the organization said Israeli forces were responsible for "unlawful killings, torture and ill-treatment of prisoners" as well as the "destruction of hundreds of homes sometimes with the residents still inside."
In addition Amnesty is concerned about "the blocking of ambulances and denial of humanitarian assistance and the use of Palestinian civilians as "human shields."
