HAARETZ 1. FIRST SUICIDE BOMBING IN TWO MONTHS: 15 DEAD IN HAIFA BUS.
Israel refraining from comprehensive response; IDF operates in Gaza; Suicide bomber wrote letter praising September 11th attacks. Suicide bomber blew himself up in afternoon, on bus #37, in Haifa. Approximately 10 still in hospital in serious condition. Suicide bomber: Hamas terrorist, student, 21 from Hebron. Bus was full of schoolchildren and students. Cabinet decides not to change policy in territories. IDF imposes closure on West Bank until Sunday. 2. INTELLIGENCE CHIEF: PREPARE FOR ATTACK FROM MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. HATZOFEH 1. After approximately 10 months of quiet, suicide bombing, fourth in center of Haifa; 15 murdered, approximately 50 injured. INFERNO RETURNS TO HAIFA. Slightly after 2pm. Bus #37, full of passengers, blew up near entrance to Carmellia neighborhood. Suicide bomber got on bus a few stops before, waited patiently until bus was full of schoolchildren, students and adults, and then set off explosive belt of 10kg explosives. Passengers did not have much chance of survival. Suicide bomber 20 year old from Hebron. Cabinet convened last night. Assumption is that response will be restrained in order not to cause problems for the US ahead of the attack against Iraq. MAARIV 1. After two months and one day, Israel is bleeding again. 15 murdered, including many schoolchildren. THE INFERNO RETURNS. Suicide bomber blows himself up on Egged bus #37 in Haifa. Suicide note found on his body. YEDIOT AHRONOT 1. The terror returns: 15 MURDERED IN HAIFA ATTACK, INCLUDING FATHER AND SON AND 7 SCHOOLCHILDREN. 2. SUICIDE BOMBER LEFT NOTE PRAISING ATTACK ON TWIN TOWERS. _______________________________________________ SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS Yediot Ahronot comments that there has been a worrying change in Israeli and Palestinian public opinion in the last two and a half years. The editors believe that A majority, here and there, support a settlement; an even larger majority, there and here, think that the most effective way to reach a solution is through spilling to other sides blood. The paper claims that this view reflects the despair between two nations who have no belief left, and that each side demonizes the other
with the belief that the enemy wont settle for less than every inch of this country, which is filled with blood. The editors continue that, Each side has its own pictures
which blur out any thoughts that do not include revenge. That was the yesterdays picture: the burnt out bus in Haifa, its roof blown off and young bodies laying beside it, a long long line. The paper says that We distinguish between someone who purposefully targets civilians and those that do everything possible to ensure that this type of attack is prevented, a distinction that is difficult to make when a house falls on a pregnant woman and millions of people live in miserable poverty and conclude that both sides are completely apathetic to the suffering of the other side, illogically ignoring the fact that todays pain leads to tomorrows destruction and vengeance. The editors assert that the violence is an excuse not to do what logic tells us should have been done long ago. If the Palestinians would stop terror and focus on popular protest, they would have had large political accomplishments by now
if Israel would decide to build a separation fence
the terrorist would not have been able to make his way to Haifa so easily. The paper claims that, When despair takes over, no one believes in solutions. And when we only believe in force, any thoughts of other paths are seen as weakness, which will only lead to tragedy. Hatzofeh writes that The US has reached a point of no return and there is no doubt, that President George W. Bush plans to implement his promise to set up a democratic regime in Iraq.
