Israel was on high alert Tuesday after five Palestinian suicide attacks in 48 hours killed 12 Israelis.
All police leave and training was cancelled and thousands of policemen were deployed in town centres and around potential targets, including bus stations and shopping malls.
Military patrols were also stepped up along the borders with the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza Strip, which have been totally sealed since two bombers struck in east Jerusalem on Sunday.
"The wave of attacks have not reached their peak and will continue," the Israeli radio quoted a senior defence official as saying. The radio added Israel's Shin Bet internal security service had failed to anticipate the attacks, even though the Israeli army has occupied the West Bank for the past year.
Meanwhile, US Senior officials said the administration is urging Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who canceled a White House meeting set for Tuesday after the latest suicide bombings, to reschedule his U.S. visit for next week, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday. President Bush is due to leave for a lengthy European trip on May 29, and administration officials feared that "momentum" would be lost if the Sharon visit were delayed until his return, the newspaper added. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
