Netanya has suffered its third terrorist attack in the same downtown area in two years. At 8:50 AM, a suicide bomber exploded a bomb he was carrying on his person, killing two Israeli women. One of them died some two hours after the blast as doctors were attempting to save her life on the operating table. Of the 74 people who were hurt - most of them suffering from shock or scratches from flying shrapnel - 48 remained hospitalized late this afternoon. An Arab who was beat up by an angry mob is in critical condition. Extensive damage was done to stores in the area. The wounded were taken to three nearby hospitals: Hillel Yaffe in Hadera, Meir in Kfar Saba, and Laniado in Netanya.
The three victims of today\'s attack were:
Naftali Din, 84, of Tel Mond
Evgenia Malchin, 70, of Netanya
Shulamit Ziv, 58, of Netanya
The explosion took place on a pedestrian crossing opposite the central bus station in the center of Netanya. The terrorist apparently attempted to board a bus there, but the suspicious driver did not let him on. The suicide bomber looked around, saw policemen checking out a suspicious object nearby, and decided to detonate the bomb right there. The number of Israelis killed since the beginning of the Rosh HaShanah Arab Assault is now up to 67; Hizbullah killed two others along the northern border. Dozens of local residents demonstrated at the site of the attack against the deterioration in the security situation. They held signs reading, \"Kahane Was Right\" and \"Revenge.\"
Hamas has claimed responsibility for the fatal attack, which came only hours after it published an announcement warning of its readiness to carry out terrorist attacks against Israelis \"as soon as the Sharon government takes office.\" The terrorist organization boasts of \"ten suicide attackers\" ready to perpetrate such killings.
The three victims of today\'s attack were:
Naftali Din, 84, of Tel Mond
Evgenia Malchin, 70, of Netanya
Shulamit Ziv, 58, of Netanya
The explosion took place on a pedestrian crossing opposite the central bus station in the center of Netanya. The terrorist apparently attempted to board a bus there, but the suspicious driver did not let him on. The suicide bomber looked around, saw policemen checking out a suspicious object nearby, and decided to detonate the bomb right there. The number of Israelis killed since the beginning of the Rosh HaShanah Arab Assault is now up to 67; Hizbullah killed two others along the northern border. Dozens of local residents demonstrated at the site of the attack against the deterioration in the security situation. They held signs reading, \"Kahane Was Right\" and \"Revenge.\"
Hamas has claimed responsibility for the fatal attack, which came only hours after it published an announcement warning of its readiness to carry out terrorist attacks against Israelis \"as soon as the Sharon government takes office.\" The terrorist organization boasts of \"ten suicide attackers\" ready to perpetrate such killings.