Suicide bomber kills 20 in Jerusalem
The US-backed “road map” for peace in the Middle East appears imperilled after a suicide bomber detonated a bomb on a bus loaded with Jewish worshippers, killing at least 20 people.
Over 100 people were injured, including women and children, police said.
Extremist group Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility for the heinous action in a call to Lebanese TV station Al Manar.
But Hamas said the Jerusalem bombing was carried out by Raed Abdel-Hamed Mesk, a mosque preacher and fellow traveller from Hebron.
Israel has stopped discussions on the handover of Ramallah, Tulkarem, Qalqiliya and Jericho to Palestinian control.
“We are suspending the withdrawals. We will have to evaluate the situation. While we reach out on the one hand, we get just more suicide attacks,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Yoni Peled said.
Islamic Jihad had threatened revenge for an Israeli raid which killed the group’s leader in the West Bank city of Hebron.
The blast exploded shortly after 9pm (1900BST) local time last night in Jerusalem. It was returning from the Western Wall.
Police reported the bomb had been packed with bits of metal, for greater, deadlier, impact.
The US said the terrorism was a “vicious act” and urged Palestinian authorities to “destroy” terrorist networks.
The UK said the attack was “senseless.”
Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas condemned the bombing as a “terrible act.”
“I want to declare my full condemnation for this terrible act, which cannot serve the interests of the Palestinian people,” he added.
Mr Abbas said Palestinian security forces would investigate.
