JERUSALEM, 29 August 2005 — In the first attack after Israel evacuated settlers from 25 Jewish settlements on occupied land, a Palestinian yesterday blew himself up near a bus station in Beersheba, injuring dozens of people, two of them seriously.
Twelve hours after the blast, two groups — the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades linked to Fatah and Al-Quds Brigades of Islamic Jihad — jointly claimed responsibility for the attack. The groups identified the bomber as Alaa Zaakik, 25, from Beit Omar, which lies between Bethlehem and Hebron in the West Bank.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced the bombing as a “terror attack” and called on Israel to show restraint. “We condemn such attacks. We don’t accept them, and we call on everyone to refrain from retaliation,” he said.
In a statement, the official WAFA news agency quoted Abbas as linking the bombing to Israel’s raid on the Tulkarm refugee camp last week, killing five Palestinians. Abbas said a February truce must be maintained “despite all the Israeli provocations.”
His national security adviser Jibril Rajoub said Israel had to expect the consequence of its crime in Tulkarm. “Israel must know that if it continues with this state terrorism it will lead to more violence in the region,” Rajoub said.
Israel demanded action from Abbas. “Israel has taken the necessary steps to further the prospects of peace with the Palestinians,” said David Baker, an official in Sharon’s office. “This bombing... is another indication that the Palestinian Authority must take proper steps against terror, and without these steps, there will be no progress between the sides.”
The explosion was in a dirt parking lot about 100 meters from the bus station, which was crowded with morning rush-hour travelers. Witnesses said two security guards halted the bomber, preventing a much larger attack. The guards were badly wounded.
Taxi driver Itzik Ohana said he was waiting for customers in the lot when he saw the bomber, a man about 20, who had short hair and was dragging a heavy bag and sweating. The man frequently stopped to put the bag down and rest.
Ohana said he told a security guard about the suspicious-looking man and called the police. “While I was talking to the police there was an explosion,” he said. The bomber was killed.
After the attack, police raised the alert level across Israel. During yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said the West Bank was becoming the focus for Israel’s war against militants. He said Israel has made it clear that the Palestinians must fulfill their pledges to act against violent groups.
The pullout of settlers from Gaza that was completed on Aug. 22 passed off largely peacefully with Israeli authorities expressing their satisfaction with the levels of security cooperation from the Palestinian Authority.
The Israeli Cabinet yesterday approved an agreement to allow the deployment of Egyptian troops along the southern border of the Gaza Strip after Israel’s pullout from the territory. Ministers voted overwhelmingly in favor of the deployment, with 18 votes in favor and two against, an official in Sharon’s office said. The vote paves the way for the deployment of 750 Egyptian border guards along the border between southern Gaza and Egypt to prevent smuggling, and will allow Israeli troops to pull out of the area.
The troop deployment will be put before the parliamentary plenum on Wednesday in a vote where it is expected to be approved.
Israeli and Egyptian officials reached an agreement over the deployment last Wednesday.
— Additional input from agencies
