Radio Israel has reported that the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has claimed responsibility for a powerful explosion on a bus in Haifa Sunday in which at least 15 were killed and at least 30 wounded.
The explosion ripped through the No. 16 bus in the Hadar section of Haifa just after midday Sunday. Three of the wounded are in serious condition.
Police believe the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber. The explosion took place on Hagiborim Street in the Halisa neighborhood in the coastal city.
The Palestinian leadership has "strongly" condemned Sunday's bus bombing in Haifa, and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has called an emergency meeting to take "very important and forceful decisions," the secretary general of the Palestinian cabinet told AFP.
“We strongly condemn the bombing of the bus in Haifa and also condemn all attacks which target civilians," Ahmad Abdul Rahman said.
“The Palestinian leadership will hold a meeting now headed by President Arafat after the bombing operations in Jerusalem and Haifa," he said.
News agencies put the number of Israelis killed in the latest Palestinian uprising at well over 200, and the tally of wounded at more than 2,000.
The Tel Aviv-based Haaretz has reported that the number of Palestinians killed in the 14-month rebellion against 34 years of occupation now exceeds 700, and the toll of wounded is between 8,500 and 10,000.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who took office promising to guarantee the safety of ordinary Israelis within a short period of time by taking a hard line, recently told his Likud Party inner circle to prepare for a long struggle – Albawaba.com
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