Two buses explode in Israel – at least 15 dead

JERUSALEM – Two buses blew up in a southern Israeli city yesterday, killing at least 15 people and wounding 44, in what appeared to be the first Palestinian suicide bombings inside Israel in six months, rescue officials said.

The militant Hamas group has reportedly claimed responsibility. Israel’s Channel Two television said the blasts had been carried out by Palestinian suicide bombers, but the report couldn’t immediately be confirmed.TV reports said two mangled bodies were found – presumably those of the bombers.The buses went up in flames almost simultaneously near a main intersection in the centre of Beersheba, the largest city in southern Israel.The city is about 15 km from the West Bank and 40 km east of the Gaza Strip.The explosions burned out the two buses, with flames shooting through the roof of one of the vehicles.At least two bodies, covered in white sheets, lay on the ground nearby.Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service reported at least 12 deaths and 44 wounded, including 20 in serious condition.It was not clear whether the death count included suicide bombers.The rescue service initially said 11 people were killed.Hezbollah’s al-Manar television station in Lebanon quoted Palestinian sources as saying they had carried out “martyrdom operations,” a phrase used to describe suicide bombings.Israeli officials accuse the Lebanese guerrilla group of aiding Palestinian militants.In the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh in southern Lebanon, gunmen fired shots into the air to celebrate the attacks, a Palestinian official said.Palestinian militants haven’t carried out a major attack inside Israel since March 14, when 11 people were killed in the port of Ashdod.The attack prompted Israel to assassinate the spiritual leader of the Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip.Israel has said the lull was due to its success in fighting militants, not a lack of effort by the armed groups.Israel has arrested or killed dozens of militants in recent months.Israel also says its contentious West Bank barrier has prevented numerous attacks.The barrier, about one-quarter complete, has not reached the area near Hebron, the closest Palestinian city to Beersheba.Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said “the Palestinian Authority condemns any attacks that target civilians, whether Israelis or Palestinian.”Earlier yesterday, the Israeli army caught a Palestinian man strapped with explosives as he tried to cross into Israel from the Gaza Strip.- Nampa-APIsrael’s Channel Two television said the blasts had been carried out by Palestinian suicide bombers, but the report couldn’t immediately be confirmed.TV reports said two mangled bodies were found – presumably those of the bombers.The buses went up in flames almost simultaneously near a main intersection in the centre of Beersheba, the largest city in southern Israel.The city is about 15 km from the West Bank and 40 km east of the Gaza Strip.The explosions burned out the two buses, with flames shooting through the roof of one of the vehicles.At least two bodies, covered in white sheets, lay on the ground nearby.Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service reported at least 12 deaths and 44 wounded, including 20 in serious condition.It was not clear whether the death count included suicide bombers.The rescue service initially said 11 people were killed.Hezbollah’s al-Manar television station in Lebanon quoted Palestinian sources as saying they had carried out “martyrdom operations,” a phrase used to describe suicide bombings.Israeli officials accuse the Lebanese guerrilla group of aiding Palestinian militants.In the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh in southern Lebanon, gunmen fired shots into the air to celebrate the attacks, a Palestinian official said.Palestinian militants haven’t carried out a major attack inside Israel since March 14, when 11 people were killed in the port of Ashdod.The attack prompted Israel to assassinate the spiritual leader of the Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip.Israel has said the lull was due to its success in fighting militants, not a lack of effort by the armed groups.Israel has arrested or killed dozens of militants in recent months.Israel also says its contentious West Bank barrier has prevented numerous attacks.The barrier, about one-quarter complete, has not reached the area near Hebron, the closest Palestinian city to Beersheba.Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said “the Palestinian Authority condemns any attacks that target civilians, whether Israelis or Palestinian.”Earlier yesterday, the Israeli army caught a Palestinian man strapped with explosives as he tried to cross into Israel from the Gaza Strip.- Nampa-AP