A suicide bombing attack took place Sunday at Cafe London in the Israeli city of Netanya. At least 20 people were wounded.
"There was a huge explosion," said a worker at a nearby fish restaurant. "I saw two soldiers thrown to the ground and the terrorist ripped to pieces at the entrance."
Another witness told Israel Radio that she was about 100 meters away from the restaurant when she heard the blast. She entered the cafe to look for her sister, who was there at the time but turned out to be unharmed.
"Everything flew everywhere," said the Netanya resident, who has also been present at four other terror attacks. "Every terror attack is more painful and more frightening, and we wait for the next one," she said.
Israel Radio reported that security guards prevented the bomber from entering the cafe, while Channel 10 reported that the explosive device was relatively small compared to those used in other suicide bombings.
Responsibility for the attack was claimed by Islamic Jihad. The bomber was 20-year-old Rami Ghanen, a first-year student from the Al-Quds university in Tulkarem.
The Islamic Jihad added that its first group of fighters has recently arrived in Baghdad to defend it from the US invasion forces.
Sunday also marked Land Day, an annual day of marches and protests by Israel's Arab citizens against land confiscations. "Palestinian terror has once again struck at innocent Israelis," said David Baker, an official in the Prime Minister's Office. "The Palestinian trail of terror continues unabated."
Saeb Erekat, a Palestinian Cabinet minister, said the Palestinian leadership "condemns targeting civilians, whether Palestinian or Israeli." He urged the international community to step up efforts to revive Mideast peace talks.
(Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
