Seven Israelis were injured in a suicide bombing attack in the West Bank settlement of Efrat, in the Gush Etzion bloc of settlements, around 5 P.M. (local time) Sunday afternoon.
One person, a paramedic, was seriously injured and six others were lightly hurt in the attack, which took place in the settlement's commercial center. This bombing came just two hours after a suicide bomber blew himself up in Haifa.
Haifa
At least 15 Israelis were killed and dozens injured when a Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up in the "Matza" restaurant, at around 2:40 P.M. (local time) on Sunday, in the Neve Sha'anan neighborhood of Haifa, near the "Grand Kenyon" shopping mall.
About 40 Israelis had been evacuated to hospital, some of them in critical condition.
Israel Radio reported that the restaurant, which is located in a gas station complex, was destroyed by the blast. The restaurant is owned by Israeli Arabs.
Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack. Hamas official Abdel Aziz al Rantisi, told Abu Dhabi television that the attacks would continue until Israel ended its operation in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where the Israeli army has been occupying Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's compound since Friday.
Hamas identified the bomber as 18-year-old Shadi Tobassi from Jenin area.
A short time later, the Islamic Jihad also claimed responsibility for the attack.
Israeli Cabinet
The Israeli security cabinet decided Sunday evening to intensify the Israeli military operations against the Palestinians, and to bring forward a number of actions that were set for a later date.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon convened his security cabinet Sunday afternoon to discuss the military operation in the West Bank town of Ramallah and Israel's response to the increasing number of suicide attacks. He was due to address the nation later this evening. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
