The explosion that took place in Jerusalem was caused by an explosive device placed in a phone booth close to a bus stop near the Jerusalem Convention Center. An Israeli woman was killed and at least 38 were injured.Israeli sources reported that five of the wounded suffered serious conditions, five others suffered moderate injuries while the rest sustained mild injuries.
According to Israel’s Ynet News, most of the wounded are 15 – 30 years old.
Israeli sources reported that one person was arrested in West Jerusalem in relation to the blast. The person’s ID or nationality were not made public.
The Israeli police and army were heavily deployed in the area and in areas that lead to Bethlehem and Ramallah.
Roadblocks were installed in the West Bank and harsher security measures were enforced, especially around Jerusalem.
According to Israel’s TV, Channel 2, the Palestinian Red Crescent contacted the Israeli Emergency Services offering help.
The Israeli Radio reported that Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had cancelled his Moscow visit after receiving news of the blast.
Netanyahu is currently holding talks with his advisors regarding the issue and recent escalation in the area.
While visiting the attack site, Israeli Interior Minister, Eli Yishai, stated that “retaliation was called for”, Ynet said.
He added that although the government did not make a concrete decision yet, it will be weighing all options, and that “refraining from launching a military operation is not an option”.
He also linked between the killing of the Jewish family in Itamar settlement in the West Bank, and Wednesday’s bombing.
The stabbing in Itamar settlement took place on Friday Match 11. According to Israeli media reports, the victims were killed while sleeping in their beds, and include a mother, father, 11-year old, 3-year old and an infant. Another child, 12, reportedly managed to escape to a neighbor’s house to call for help. The attack was not ruled out as criminally motivated.
Palestinian Prime Minister in the West Bank, Dr. Salaam Fayyad, denounced the Jerusalem bombing, regardless of its background, and expressed his wishes for a full recovery to the wounded.
Three weeks ago, a Palestinian worker was injured when an explosive device, placed in a trash bag, detonated near him. The incident took place near a road that leads to Gilo settlement, south of Jerusalem.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli soldiers continued the bombardment of different areas, including civilian neighborhoods.
On Tuesday, nine Palestinians, including three children, were killed as the army bombarded the Gaza Strip. More than forty residents were wounded, some seriously.
Five of the slain Palestinians are children; 15 of the wounded were also children in addition to six women.
The Israeli army fired at least 60 missiles and artillery shells into the Gaza Strip since Sunday.
