Bomb follows deaths in Israel

Herald news services

JERUSALEM — A suicide bomber blew himself up at a busy intersection in Israel’s north on Sunday, shortly after four Palestinians were killed in a West Bank village during an Israeli raid.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, interviewed by The Associated Press before the two incidents, called on the United States to exert pressure on Israel to stop its attacks on the Palestinians, and pledged to crack down on violent groups.

The suicide bomber was the only person to die in the bomb attack near the northern port city of Haifa, police and rescue workers said. Dr. Zvi Ben-Ishai, deputy director of Haifa’s Rambam hospital, said 11 wounded had been brought in, and "most of them were very slightly wounded by shrapnel."

The bomber set off his explosive charge at a bus stop used by soldiers waiting for rides back to their bases after weekend leaves. The attack took place at 7:30 a.m. on a work day in Israel, when the intersection was crowded with vehicles and people.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast. Recent suicide bomb strikes have been carried out by two radical Palestinian groups, Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

A few hours earlier in the West Bank, Israeli forces entered the Palestinian town of Anabta, east of the town of Tulkarem, killing four Palestinian policemen in an exchange of fire, said Tulkarem Governor Izzadine al-Shariff.

An army statement said troops entered villages east of Tulkarem overnight to conduct searches and arrest "people engaged in terrorist activity."

Anabta Mayor Hamdallah Hamdallah told the Palestinian news agency Wafa that the four police officers were shot "in cold blood." Israel Radio reported that Palestinians opened fire on the Israeli soldiers from two vehicles, and the soldiers returned the fire, killing the gunmen.

Witnesses said Israeli forces detained 25 people in Anabta. The incursion began around 2:30 a.m., they said, when 12 Israeli armored vehicles and two bulldozers entered the village. Palestinians said Israeli forces took over two floors of the Anabta village council building.

The two attacks a week ago led Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to cut short his visit to the United States. Israeli air force planes and helicopters hit Palestinian police and security facilities in the West Bank and Gaza, and Israel’s Cabinet declared Yasser Arafat’s Palestinian Authority an "entity that supports terrorism."

Interviewed at his headquarters in Ramallah in the West Bank on Saturday, Arafat said the United States had given him guarantees that the Israeli strikes would stop while he is rounding up militants, but Israel was violating the understanding.

The American envoys "said they will do their best," Arafat said. "But the Israelis are not listening to anybody until now."

He said he had arrested 17 militants from a list of 33 relayed by U.S. officials. Israel and the United States have demanded that Arafat crack down on Hamas and Islamic Jihad, arresting their leaders.

And in a day-long extravaganza of photo ops and sound bites on Sunday, New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and his successor-elect, Michael Bloomberg, toured the sites of suicide bombings and shooting attacks, proclaiming that the experience of terrorism had sealed a fraternal bond between New York and Jerusalem.

Amid crushing security and an admiring crowd of onlookers, the men made the block-long stroll downtown between the Sbarro pizzeria, where 15 people were killed by a suicide bomber in August, and Cafe Rimon, where 11 people were killed by a pair of bombers last weekend, including a 17-year-old boy who died Saturday.

Israelis, who have been feeling particularly friendless in recent months, showered Giuliani with gratitude, chanting his name and wishing him well. In honor of the visitors, Jerusalem city officials slapped a temporary name — "New York Street" — over a sign for Jaffa Street near the bombing sites.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

The second floor of the Lynnwood Crisis Center on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Funding gap leaves Lynnwood without a crisis center provider

The idea for the Lynnwood crisis center began in 2021 after a 47-year-old died by suicide while in custody at Lynnwood Municipal Jail.

Three injured after high-speed, head-on collision on Highway 522

Washington State Patrol is investigating the crash that happened before 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

Fernando Espinoza salts the sidewalk along Fifth Avenue South on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Think this is cold, Snohomish County? Wait until Tuesday

Tuesday could bring dangerous wind chill during the day and an overnight low of 19 degrees

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

The Washington State Department of Licensing office is seen in 2018 in Seattle. (Sue Misao / The Herald)
Drivers licensing offices to close Feb. 14-17

Online services are also not available Feb. 10-17. The Washington State Department of Licensing said the move is necessary to upgrade software.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.