Suicide Blast Kills 16 in Jerusalem; Israel Strikes Gaza
A Palestinian bomber disguised as an Orthodox Jew detonated himself tonight on a crowded bus, killing 16 other people, wounding nearly 100 and dealing another blow to the newly born American-led plan to find peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The bomb exploded in the aisle next to the driver on the 14/A bus on Jaffa Road in central Jerusalem at about 6 p.m. local time, just as the evening rush hour was starting. Tonight, the militant Islamic group Hamas claimed responsibility for the bombing, part of a new cycle of attack and revenge since a meeting in Aqaba, Jordan, of Palestinian and Israeli leaders with President Bush. They committed themselves, just a week ago, to the so-called road map to a peace settlement, an effort that administration officials now fear may be threatened. Full Story