And now it seems as though there will be more victims’ photographs to hold up at the Hague, with reports of a bus bombing in Jerusalem, near Liberty Bell Park (Gan Hapa’amon). This area is not far from the Moment Cafe, which was subjected to a terrorist attack almost two years ago. It is also not very far from the scene of the last suicide bombing.
Initial reports suggest that at least thirty people are wounded.
Update 9:05AM: At least five people have been killed.
Update 9:45AM: At least 7 killed and 60 injured. Jerusalem blogger Tal G seems to be ok. I hope the rest of you are out of harm’s way.
Update 9:55AM: Ha’aretz reports that Jerusalem police chief Mickey Levy says site of bombing being tested for possible presence of chemical agents.
Update 10:20AM: “It is impossible to deploy a security guard on every bus. The attack is a result of the uncompleted counter-terrorism barrier.” – Chief Commissioner of Police, Shlomo Aharonishky. I wonder if this will influence the ICJ proceedings tomorrow.
Update 10:40AM: Another morally corrupt PA condemnation: “The Palestinian government stresses that its foremost national interest demands that such acts stop as they serve as excuses for Israel to continue building its wall, carry out its assassinations, raids and targeting of Palestinian civilians.” How about basic morality demanding that such acts stop?
Update 11:15AM: Hamas have claimed responsibility, saying that the attack was meant to serve as a message to the ICJ that the security fence will not bring security to Israeli civilians. They may be right. A security fence alone may not be enough. The IDF has to wipe out the terrorists. Period.
Update 11.55AM: Now Afatrat’s beloved Al-Aksa Brigades have claimed responsibility. He is the one who should be sitting in the ICJ on war crime charges, not Israel.
The Jerusalem Post also reports that Hamas demanded that Israelis leave all of Israel; “if not, they will face the same destiny of those Zionists who were attacked in the martyrdom operation in Jerusalem today.” Wake up lefties! Withdrawing to the pre-67 borders is not enough for these murderers.
Update 12:30PM: In Israel, we have security personnel board buses and check for suspicious people or objects. Apparently, one such security person had been on the targeted bus, but disembarked one stop before the explosion.
Update 12:45PM: American Jewish leaders have witnessed the aftermath of the attack, having been inside the Inbal hotel (which is extremely close to the location of the explosion) at the critical time.
Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (COP), Malcolm Hoenlein has echoed my sentiments, when he said this about the upcoming ICJ hearings: “This farce must be stopped. Arafat is the one to blame, not the State of Israel.”
Update 2:50PM: The bomber was reportedly married and a father to a child, with his wife being pregnant. What the hell was he doing chasing after 72 virgins?
Update 4:40PM: The three victims named so far were all teenagers/young adults.
