response 1 of 9:

Jun 18 19:13 UTC 2002

Bombing threatens US peace push

 
Sharon took the unusual step of visiting the scene

Israel has signalled that a deadly bus bombing by a Palestinian militant in
Jerusalem on Tuesday will set back US plans to end nearly two years of
violence. 
The rush-hour blast, which killed 19 Israelis and injured over 50 others, came
as President Bush prepared to announce a new blueprint for peace in the Middle
East, possibly including the setting up of a Palestinian state. 

But speaking at the scene of the attack in southern Jerusalem, Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon said the bombing was an argument "stronger than any
words" against Palestinian statehood. 

"It is interesting to know what kind of Palestinian state they are talking
about," he added, apparently referring to the American plan. 

Israel public radio said Mr Sharon had decided to retaliate for the bombing,
following a meeting with military and security chiefs. 

The Israeli leader was due to hold further talks on Tuesday night with his
"mini cabinet" - including Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres who cut short
a foreign trip after the attack. 

Bush 'vision' 

The White House said President Bush condemned "this act of terrorism [in
Jerusalem] in the strongest possible terms". 




There has been growing anticipation that Mr Bush would deliver a major speech
early this week outlining the US vision for resolving the conflict. 

Media reports suggest the announcement would call for an interim Palestinian
state and a Middle East peace conference. 

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Mr Bush would not deliver his
address on Tuesday, but denied it had been delayed by the Jerusalem bombing.


"When the president has something to say, he will do so," he told reporters.


Recriminations 

The Israeli Government blamed the Palestinian Authority for Tuesday's attack,
saying it should serve as a lesson for President Bush. 
"If President Bush makes a mention of a future Palestinian state, this will
be a clear contribution to future terrorism," said Israeli Internal Security
Minister Uzi Landau. 

Israeli Government spokesman Arieh Mekel warned that Palestinian "aspirations
of a state are getting further and further away". 

The Palestinian Authority condemned the bus bombing, saying Israel would use
it as a pretext launch a military action. 

"The only beneficiary of this [bombing] is Sharon and the occupation. Israel
will use this operation to escalate its aggression against the Palestinian
Authority," Palestinian Information Minister Abed Rabbo told French news
agency AFP. 

Ramallah in fear 

The BBC's Caroline Hawley, who is in Ramallah, says there has been no word
so far from the Palestinian leader himself, although one of his bodyguards
described him as tired and worried. 

There is fear in Ramallah, she says, that the Israeli army may return. 

Pharmacies and grocers report increased sales, as Palestinians stock up in
preparation for the worst. 

Food, water and medicines have been taken into Mr Arafat's headquarters, and
a group of international peace activists has also gone in, saying they want
to try to protect the Palestinians inside. 

Meanwhile in Hebron, Israeli commandos are reported to have killed a member
of the military wing of the radical Islamic Jihad group. 

Yussef Bisharat, 22, was gunned down in his car at an army roadblock at the
northern entrance to the city, according to a Jihad spokesman quoted by AFP.


Massive blast 

The early morning attack was the deadliest of its kind in Jerusalem since
February 1996, when 26 people were killed in a bus explosion. 

The bus was full of schoolchildren and office workers when the bomber
detonated nail-studded explosives. 

"There was a huge explosion, smoke and pieces of the bus and body parts were
flying everywhere. It was horrible," a witness told Israeli radio. 

Islamic militant group Hamas said one of its members, 22-year-old Mohammed
al-Ghoul from the al-Faraa refugee camp in the West Bank, carried out the
attack. 

Israeli police arrested one of Mr al-Ghoul's brothers, Iyad al-Ghoul, in east
Jerusalem, said witnesses quoted by AFP. 

response 3 of 9:

Jun 18 21:12 UTC 2002

Um, *Scottish* singer, Ken? Mercedes Peon was born in 1967 in A Coruna
(apologies for the lack of diacritical marks) and that is in GALICIA. :)
http://www.globalvillageidiot.net/peon.htm

response 5 of 9:

Jun 19 00:57 UTC 2002

But none of those children who were killed on the bus
ever won the Nobel Peace Prize.

response 7 of 9:

Jun 19 05:18 UTC 2002

Scottish singer, Spanish singer, what's the difference?  :/
Or, Ooops... I was thinking about Radio Scotland and my fingers
went marching merrily on their way.

Anyway, that's Mercedes Peon, next week on "Celtic Connections,"
Tuesday afternoon.

response 9 of 9:

Jun 19 22:58 UTC 2002

eat yer Billy Goats Gruff, Phillie boy.