the bomber and at least three civilians at an open air market in Israel’s commercial capital of Tel Aviv. The organization identified the bomber as 18-year old Amar Alfar from the Askar refugee camp near the West Bank town of Nablus.
"Three people – two women and one man – all in their 20s – were killed and more than 30 were wounded – five seriously" in the attack said the well informed International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, (ICEJ) a Christian organization supporting the State of Israel.
"SERIOUS STEPS"
Israeli television footage showed scenes of rescue workers looking for survivors between glass and the remains of the Carmel Market stalls.
In a statement Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that the attack proved "that there will been no change in the Palestinian Authority" until it starts "taking serious steps to eliminate terror, dismantle terrorist organizations and put an end to incitement," the ICEJ News Service reported.
"The State of Israel has not stopped and will not stop its war on the murderous terrorism operating against us," Sharon continued in an address to lawmakers from his governing Likud faction in the Knesset.
"Words, promises and half-hearted condemnations will not suffice. We demand full implementation of the Palestinian commitments," he added.
The attack came a day after Sharon said that the ailing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat would not be buried in Jerusalem, which he sees as the undivided capital of Israel, despite Palestinian efforts to make it their main city as well.
EAST JERUSALEM
Security officials said the bomber managed to arrive in the east Jerusalem suburb of Abu Dis on Sunday night planning to carry out the attack in the capital.
Daunted by tight security across Jerusalem, the bomber apparently secured a ride to Tel Aviv to carry out the bombing there.
ICEJ News Service quoted reports as saying that the police "chased-down the car believed to have transported him and arrested two suspects."
From his bedside in a Parisian army hospital, Yasser Arafat reportedly condemned the blast and "the killing of civilians on both sides."
The bombing was the first suicide attack in Israel since a Palestinian woman bomber blew herself up in September at a central intersection in Jerusalem, killing two border policemen, after a double suicide blast killed 16 in near simultaneous bus bombings in the Negev town of Be’er Sheva.
