Sharon declares Israel is 'at war' after 15 killed in suicide bombing
Independent, 01 April 2002
Sharon declares Israel is 'at war' after 15 killed in suicide bombing
By Eric Silver in Jerusalem
01 April 2002
A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowded café
in Haifa yesterday, killing 15, as Israeli troops tightened their siege
of Yasser Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah.
Just hours later, another bomber killed himself
and wounded four Israelis outside a clinic in the Efrat settlement, south
of Bethlehem.
It was the fifth Palestinian strike since the beginning
of the Passover holiday week. At least 43 Israelis have been killed and
more than 100 wounded. The bombers targeted Israel's three biggest cities,
Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa, in as many days.
Ariel Sharon, the Israeli Prime Minister, said in
a brief televised address that his country was at war and called Mr Arafat
an "enemy of the free world". "Citizens of Israel," he said, "the state
of Israel is at war, a war against terror. We must fight this terrorism,
in an uncompromising war to uproot these savages, to dismantle their infrastructure,
because there is no compromise with terrorists."
His words were in stark contrast to those of Shimon
Peres, the Foreign Minister, who said earlier: "We don't want to turn it
into a world war ... into a regional war. We don't want to turn the entire
world against us."
Leaders around the world urged Mr Sharon to show
restraint in his offensive and not to harm Mr Arafat. Mr Sharon said last
night he would take part in a meeting with Arab leaders if it was called
by the United States.
A meeting of Mr Sharon's inner cabinet authorised
the army which invaded Ramallah and Beit Jallah, near Bethlehem,
last week to broaden its offensive. Last night Israeli tanks entered
the West Bank town of Qalqilya from four directions. The hawkish Internal
Security Minister, Uzi Landau, said: "We must fight on until victory is
clear. We have to wage a war as we know how."
Amram Mitzna, a retired general and mayor of Haifa,
the scene of the first suicide bombing yesterday, said: "There is no longer
a front and a rear. The whole country is a battlefield."
The Matza café in Haifa, a mixed Jewish-Arab
community, is owned by an Israeli Arab and some of the casualties are believed
to be Arabs. The roof of the flimsily-built café, between a petrol
station and a supermarket, was ripped back by the blast. Windows and walls
were shredded. Shimon Sabag, who witnessed the bombing from a nearby electrician's,
ran to help. "I saw people in flames," he said. "I started to get the less
seriously wounded out. I saw children too."
Hamas identified the Haifa bomber as Shadi Tubassi,
22, from the Jenin refugee camp on the West Bank. "We will continue the
martyrdom attacks on Israel until the full withdrawal from Palestinian
territory," it vowed. But Israel is digging in and pressing the Palestinians
to hand over wanted men believed to be holed up in Mr Arafat's bunker and
in the nearby HQ of the Palestinian West Bank security service.
The army imposed a curfew and declared Ramallah
a "closed military zone". It warned journalists that they entered the city
at their own risk.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said the bodies of
four Palestinians were found in the Ramallah town centre. A reporter saw
two bodies lying in the street, near 15 Palestinians kneeling against a
wall under Israeli army guard. The Palestinian Information Minister, Yasser
Abed Rabbo, claimedIsraeli troops had stormed Mr Arafat's office building,
which has been besieged by Israeli tanks since Thursday. Shots were fired
inside the building, he said. Two of Mr Arafat's guards were wounded and
unable to receive treatment.
Israel repeated, however, that the Palestinian leader
was not a target. The army spokesman, Brigadier-General Ron Kitrey, acknowledged,
however, that Mr Arafat was at risk. "He is not sitting in a monastery,"
he said. "He is surrounded by armed people, including his guards."
According to one Israeli version of events, a gunman
emerged from the building and shot at their soldiers. A heavy exchange
of fire ensued, but the Israelis denied that they entered Mr Arafat's office.
The Palestinian leader repeated that he was determined
to stay in his compound and did not care if he was killed. He likened the
Israeli government to Nazis and said: "I am one of the martyrs of my people."
He appealed to the international community to intervene and force Israel
to pull back.
About 40 Palestinian and international peace campaigners
walked through the Israeli barricade into Mr Arafat's office. They found
him marooned in two windowless rooms with no running water or electricity.
© 2002 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd
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