The Security Council held an urgent session following an attack against a Yeshiva in Jerusalem where eight Israelis were killed and thirty others were injured, including three who suffered serious wounds.Prior to the session, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, issued a statement comdemning the attack and expressing deep concern over the deteriorating conditions in the area and the ongoing cycle of violence.
He added that such attacks aim at voiding the efforts exerted to revive the peace process.
EU foreign policy chief , Javier Solana, described the attack as torrorism and sent his condolences to the families of the killed Israelis.
US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, phoned the Israeli Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, and condemned the attack which she described as “a terrorist attack which aims at foiling the peace efforts”.
Director of the attacked Yeshiva demanded the Israeli government to complete the construction of the Annexation Wall around Jerusalem.
After the attack, Israeli tightened its closures in the occupied West Bank and around Jerusalem.
Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack and stated that he rejects any attacks against civilian targets on both sides.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, said that he will convene with the Israeli Prime Minister, the Israeli Army Chief of Staff, and the Israeli Internal Security Minister, in order to discuss the Israeli response to the attack.
In its weekly reported published on Thursday, The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) stated that during the week of 28 Feb.- 05 Mar. 2008, 114 Palestinians were killed, and 28 were injured by the Israeli military. Of those killed, 77 were killed by Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip. 27 were children, including two babies, 6 were women, and one was a paramedic. 69 of the victims were killed by Israeli forces in Jabalya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip during a massive air and ground assault. 236 Palestinians, including 154 civilians (this figure includes 56 children and 11 women) were wounded by Israeli forces.
