Bus explodes in Northern Israel, grenades hurled in Bethlehem

5:00pm

JERUSALEM - A massive explosion in or next to a bus at a junction in the northern Israeli city of Haifa killing at least eight people and wounding 12,
rescue workers said.

Further south in the West Bank, there were reports that at about 3 pm (NZT) today Israeli troops threw grenades near Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity where some 200 Palestinian fighters, civilians and Franciscan monks had taken refuge.

One man said on Israel radio: "I saw a bus, all the bus was destroyed, there are injured and ambulances." The radio spoke of dozens of wounded.

The attack was carried out by a suicide bomber or by a car which exploded next to the bus, the radio said.

An official at the Magen David Adom emergency rescue service said eight people were killed. Israeli media had earlier put the death toll at 10.

It was the first attack to be carried out against Israeli civilians since Israeli troops began a fierce offensive in Palestinian-ruled areas 12 days ago.

Associated Press news agency said the explosion happened close to Kibbutz Yagur, just east of Haifa.

- REUTERS

Feature: Middle East

Map

History of conflict

UN: Information on the Question of Palestine

Israel's Permanent Mission to the UN

Palestine's Permanent Observer Mission to the UN

Middle East Daily

Arabic News

Arabic Media Internet Network

Jerusalem Post

US Department of State - Middle East Peace Process