Sharon considering cutting short U.S. trip; PA condemns attack
By Aluf Benn, Ha'aretz Correspondent, and agencies
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was said to be considering cutting short his trip to the United States in light of the double suicide bombing in Jerusalem on Saturday night, in which at least six people were killed and over 160 injured.
After being informed of the blasts, Sharon conferred by phone with Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer and with Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. "Sharon's inclination is to return to Israel, but the decision must be made after taking into consideration his meeting with [United States President George] Bush and the importance of the meeting," a source in the prime minister's entourage said.
Ra'anan Gissin, a spokesman for the prime minister, said it was too early to tell whether Sharon would cut short his visit and rush home. "The prime minister is being briefed from Israel by the security authorities and by the defense minister on the current situation," Gissin said.
"The decision with regard to his trip and continuation and the actions that are to be taken will come later," Gissin said. "I don't know if he's considering right now (cutting short the trip) ... he's in the process of consultations."
"We still do not have exact details of where they came from and who did it and I don't want to jump to hasty conclusions," Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said shortly after the blasts. "There are many who want to murder the chances for a cease-fire and for peace. Of course the Palestinian Authority has to do more than it is doing," he added.
Israeli government spokesman Avi Pazner blamed Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat for the attacks, saying that he "bears direct responsibility for what happened today in Jerusalem."
Palestinian Authority condemns attack
In a statement, the Palestinian Authority condemned the terror attacks, expressing its "deep anger ... and pain" and accusing those behind it of trying to derail the cease-fire mission of U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni.
Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, did not claim responsibility on behalf of the group, but said Hamas would continue carrying out attacks. "We have said several times that we are not going to accept the occupation," Rantisi said. "We are fighting Jewish terrorism, we are fighting the killers and defending our freedom, and our dignity." |
