Bush after two suicide bombings rocked Jerusalem Sunday, May 18, killing at least 7 Israelis while injuring many more.
The first attack targeted a bus near the northern Jerusalem suburb of French Hill, during the start of the early morning rush hour.
As Police sealed off the area and ambulance workers rushed the wounded to nearby hospitals, a second bomber blew himself up near a road junction, not far from the first attack.
Latest reports said that no one, besides the suicide bomber, was injured in the second blast. The blasts came shortly after the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers reportedly failed late Saturday, May 17, to narrow their differences over a U.S.-backed peace plan in a three-hour summit.
PALESTINIAN VIOLENCE
Spoiling the atmosphere was Palestinian violence on the West Bank of the Jordan river, only hours before the summit began. In the first attack, a Palestinian suicide bomber killed an Israeli man and his pregnant wife in Hebron, military officials said.
Two Palestinian gunmen later tried to infiltrate the Jewish settlement of Sha’arei Tikva, but they were reportedly shot dead during a lengthy battle with Israeli troops.
Following the West Bank attacks Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas said in a statement that "stopping terrorism is the first step toward any progress." But Sunday’s bombings in Jerusalem seemed to underscore Israeli concern that the new prime minister may not be able to detain terrorists.
SALARIES FOR WEAPONS
The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, which supports Israel, earlier warned that apparent Palestinian Authority plans to pay salaries to members of militant groups in exchange for weapons may not work.
Following the Jerusalem bombings, Prime Minister Sharon cancelled his planned departure Sunday, May 18, to Washington to meet with President Bush at the White House, officials said.
The Voice of America network quoted an official in the office of Sharon as saying that "the latest attacks have shown that the Palestinian leadership must demonstrate that it is serious about fighting violence and terrorism."
It was not immediately clear if and how the latest violence would effect a scheduled new round of talks between the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers next week.
