At approximately 11:30 AM, an Arab suicide bomber approached a group of Israelis at an eating facility in the Ariel gas station located on the main road at the entrance to the town. Several soldiers identified the Arab as a suicide terrorist and demanded that he lift his shirt. At that moment, one of the soldiers fired his weapon hitting the Arab in the head. His shot came a split second too late, as the Arab succeeded in detonating his charge, causing a powerful explosion.
Three persons are reported dead. At this time, three others are reported seriously wounded, 9 moderately wounded, and 8 lightly wound. Others at the site are suffering from shock. Hospital spokesmen say that at least two of the seriously wounded on being operated on.
Emergency phone numbers of hospitals where wounded were evacuated to: Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikva: 1255134
Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer: 1255131
Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba: 1255199
An eyewitness said that the terrorist blew himself up some 15 meters from the gas pumps. Following the blast, his body was burning, but civilians at the site quickly extinguished the flames.
The town of Ariel is located in the Shomron, some 20 miles east of Tel Aviv. The detailed map above displays the Jewish and Arab villages immediately surrounding Ariel.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was updated regarding the terrorist attack during a meeting he was holding with Labor party ministers who were demanding budget cuts to Jewish towns on the front line of the terror attacks in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. The Labor Ministers were making serious threats to quit the government over the 2003 state budget which is up for a vote on its first reading today. According to some reports, the Labor party leaders were about to announce their decision to leave the government. Sharon had said this morning that in the framework of the national unity government, all members must support the budget or leave the government.
Mayor of Ariel Ron Nachman was interviewed at the site of the terrorist attack in his town. After describing the emergency medical efforts, he turned to the Labor party ministers and to Labor party leader Defense minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer saying: "Shame on you for your demands to cut our budget as we struggle with terrorist attacks like the one this morning. Shame on all of you."
Following the attack, Prime Minister Sharon said that this morning's terrorism shows the need to stabilize the National Unity government and not create an unnecessary coalition crisis.
Three persons are reported dead. At this time, three others are reported seriously wounded, 9 moderately wounded, and 8 lightly wound. Others at the site are suffering from shock. Hospital spokesmen say that at least two of the seriously wounded on being operated on.
Emergency phone numbers of hospitals where wounded were evacuated to: Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikva: 1255134
Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer: 1255131
Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba: 1255199
An eyewitness said that the terrorist blew himself up some 15 meters from the gas pumps. Following the blast, his body was burning, but civilians at the site quickly extinguished the flames.
The town of Ariel is located in the Shomron, some 20 miles east of Tel Aviv. The detailed map above displays the Jewish and Arab villages immediately surrounding Ariel.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was updated regarding the terrorist attack during a meeting he was holding with Labor party ministers who were demanding budget cuts to Jewish towns on the front line of the terror attacks in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. The Labor Ministers were making serious threats to quit the government over the 2003 state budget which is up for a vote on its first reading today. According to some reports, the Labor party leaders were about to announce their decision to leave the government. Sharon had said this morning that in the framework of the national unity government, all members must support the budget or leave the government.
Mayor of Ariel Ron Nachman was interviewed at the site of the terrorist attack in his town. After describing the emergency medical efforts, he turned to the Labor party ministers and to Labor party leader Defense minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer saying: "Shame on you for your demands to cut our budget as we struggle with terrorist attacks like the one this morning. Shame on all of you."
Following the attack, Prime Minister Sharon said that this morning's terrorism shows the need to stabilize the National Unity government and not create an unnecessary coalition crisis.