Over 20 Israelis were wounded Saturday night when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at approximately 9:30 P.M. (local time) in a cafe at downtown Tel Aviv.
The blast almost completely destroyed the cafe.
One woman is in critical condition, four were in serious condition, eight were moderately wounded and the rest lightly.
Tel Aviv police commander Ori Bar Lev said that one body has been found at the scene, which is believed to be the body of the bomber.
Fatah's Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed esponsibility for this attack. It identified the bomber as Muhaned Salahat, 21, from the West Bank city of Nablus.
Bush
Meanwhile, U.S. President Bush said Saturday that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat "can do a lot more" to prevent attacks against Israelis and that the United States supports Israel's right to defend itself.
"I believe he can do a lot more to prevent attack," Bush said in his first comments since Israeli troops laid siege Friday to Arafat's headquarters in the West Bank after 30 Israelis were killed in a week.
"I am deeply concerned about the loss of innocent life. ... I fully understand Israel's need to defend herself," the president said at his Texas ranch where he had kept a silence while monitoring Friday's developments.
According to AP, Bush added U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni would remain in the region to continue his efforts at arranging a cease-fire.
Bush stepped up his Mideast diplomacy Saturday with calls to five world leaders. But the president announced no new action by his administration to end the bloodshed.
He urged all Middle East leaders to strongly condemn the attacks against Israelis, but singled out Arafat.
"He has got to speak up," Bush said. "He need needs to stand up and condemn ... these attacks."
Asked if he thought the administration could do more to help end the cycle of violence, Bush said U.S. officials are spending "a great deal of time" on the matter and he is committed to ending terrorism in the Middle East and around the world.
In addition to harsh words for Arafat, Bush insisted Israel must work to reduce the violence. He urged Israel to "make sure there is a path to peace as it secures its homeland."
"There's got to be a peaceful solution," Bush said.
Bush made calls from the ranch to King Abdullah II of Jordan, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (news - web sites), Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar of Spain and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, who has offered a leading peace initiative. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
