At the end of another day of bloodshed, Israeli and Palestinian Authority security officials were meeting Sunday evening with the goal of reaching agreement on the conditions for an Israeli withdrawl from Palestinian-controlled areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
An Israeli Defense Ministry spokesman confirmed that, "meetings between field level commanders were held this evening in [both] the Gaza Strip and Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) in order to begin a process of cooling things down."
French Hill
At least ten Israelis were injured lightly when a Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up next to a bus at approximately 2:30 P.M. (local time) Sunday in the French Hill junction north of Jerusalem. The blast occurred next to bus number 22, which travels from central Jerusalem to the Jewish Neve Yaakov settlement.
Jerusalem police commander Mickey Levy said the bomber rushed a bus at the intersection and set off the explosives. The bus sustained heavy damage and several passengers suffered cuts from flying glass, he said.
The Islamic Jihad movement claimed responsibility for this attack.
A short time later, an explosion took place in a valley between northern Jerusalem's settlement of Pisgat Ze'ev and the West Bank village Anata, killing one person who was apparently on his way to carry out a suicide bombing, Israel Radio reported.
A few Palestinian youth tried to bury the body in a cemetery in the village, but Israeli police officers prevented them from doing so. No other casualties have been reported.
Kfar Sava
Two hours before the French Hill attack, a 16-year-old Israeli girl was killed and at least 15 Israelis were wounded Sunday noon when a gunman opened fire at around 12:50 P.M. (local time) at passers-by in the central city of Kfar Sava. The attack took place close to the city's Magistrates Court and the police station.
Israeli police launched a search for a second gunman after witnesses at the scene said that they had seen a man running away, Israel Radio reported.
One Palestinian was subequently arrested, but was discovered to have no connection to the attack. Later, the police said that the Palestinian acted alone and added he was a resident of the West Bank city of Nablus, 26.
Regional police chief Aharon Franco said that the gunman apparently arrived on foot.
Six of the wounded were rushed to hospital. One female was in critical condition and later died of her wounds. Two were seriously wounded and the rest suffered light injuries.
Kfar Sava is located near the West Bank city of Qalqilyah.
Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office condemned the attack, which came during the fourth day of U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni's mission seeking a cease-fire.
"Israel has offered a cease-fire, pulled back most of its forces in good faith, and this seems to be the answer Israel is receiving," said Sharon adviser Dore Gold.
Haaretz reported Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said earlier Sunday that Israel would respond to any attacks, despite negotiations for a cease-fire.
Bethlehem
Meanwhile, Israeli tanks progressed in the afternoon deeper into Bethlehem, approaching the center of the city, Israel Radio reported.
Palestinians and Israelis have been exchanging gunfire for several hours. Palestinians sources reported the gunfire has wounded several Palestinians and that Fatah's al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade official has died of his wounds.
Zinni
Meanwhile, U.S. Mideast envoy General Anthony Zinni condemned "in the strongest possible terms" Sunday's attacks in Kfar Sava and Jerusalem's French Hill and stated they would not stop him from trying to end the regional conflict.
He made these comments prior to his third meeting since Thursday with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Ramallah.
"These attacks will not deter my efforts to continue to work with both sides to bring the Israeli-Palestinian confrontation to an end," he said in a statement.
Zinni also called on the Palestinian Authority to punish the “terrorists” who perpetrated these attacks. "At the same time, it is critical that the Palestinian Authority take responsibility and act against terror and punish those responsible," he said.
"Now is the time to get to a cease-fire, implement Tenet, and renew security cooperation. There is no justification or excuse for terror. Indeed, the only pathway forward is to move toward a cease-fire, to restore confidence and to resume a political process, and the United States will continue to do everything possible to achieve these objectives." (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
