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-News for Wed 27 March and 28 March 2002

Israel Considers Response to Suicide Bombing

VOA News
28 Mar 2002 15:56 UTC

Video from scene of Netanya suicide bombing (RealVideo)


*Destroyed ballroom of Park Hotel* in Netanya** VOA photo - Laurie Kassman

Israel is measuring a response to a Palestinian suicide bombing that killed 21 people and wounded more than 100 others Wednesday at a coastal resort in northern Israel.


Benjamin Ben Eliezer (file photo)

Israeli Defense minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer met early Thursday with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and army commanders, but there was no immediate word of any decisions. The meetings prompted the Palestinian Authority to evacuate its offices in the West Bank town of Ramallah ahead of an expected Israeli military response.


Yasser Arafat

Several Israeli cabinet ministers are calling for a massive retaliation, including ousting the Palestinian Authority and its leader Yasser Arafat - who has condemned the attack. There are also Israeli calls to re-occupy large parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The VOA correspondent in Jerusalem says such a large-scale military operation could completely negate current efforts by U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni to broker a cease-fire.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said U.S. Mideast envoy Anthony Zinni will remain in the region for the next several days to continue his efforts to achieve an Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire deal. Mr. Powell also said Mr. Arafat must now go on television and radio to tell Palestinians that suicide attacks against Israel must stop, because they are destroying hopes for a Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace with Israel.

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