(26 Feb 1996) English/Nat
Israel has begun burying the victims of Sunday's double bomb attack which killed twenty five people and wounded eighty two others.
The first of the bombs blew apart a crowded bus in the city of Jerusalem. A second device exploded at a soldiers' depot in the coastal town of Ashkelon.
The extremist Palestinian group Hamas said it carried out the attacks to avenge the death of their chief bomb maker, who was killed last month in the Gaza strip.
The coffin of the first of the bomb victims was carried to its grave in an atmosphere laden with grief, shock and anger.
This was a scene which many Israelis had hoped they would never see again once their leaders began negotiating with the Palestinians.
Many had believed the talks would see the rise of toleration and peace between the two communities.
Tragically that wish has been cruelly undermined by the brutality of Sunday's attacks.
The bombings are the deadliest in two decades and have ended a half year lull in violence.
The first explosion occurred on a crowded bus in downtown Jerusalem, ripping through the vehicle and hurling bodies into the air. The bomber was one of those who died.
Forty five minutes later a second device went off at a soldiers depot in the coastal town of Ashkelon. In addition to the bomber two people were killed in the explosion and thirty three others were injured.
Altogether twenty five people died in the attacks and eighty two were wounded.
The extremist Palestinian group Hamas said that it carried out the attack in retaliation for the death of its chief bomb maker Yehiya Ayyash.
His death in the Gaza strip last month has been attributed to the Israeli authorities.
The bombings have been strongly condemned by the international community. The American Secretary of State said the attacks would not be allowed to thwart the peace talks.
SOUNDBITE:
"These are the desperate acts of desperate people who would try to prevent the march of peace in the Middle East. I have a message for them today: You are cowards and you will not succeed. Earlier today I talked with Prime Minister Peres very early this morning and then with Chairman Arafat and the President has just talked with Prime Minister Peres. Both the Prime Minister and the Chairman made it unmistakably clear that these acts will not do anything to interfere with their commitment to stay on the path to peace and they will do so. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to the families of all of those who were involved and to tell you that the President and I are determined to do all we can to help Israel and its neighbours in the Middle East to stay on the path to peace and take steps to ensure the security of Israel."
SUPER CAPTION: Warren Christopher, Secretary of State
But as Israel mourns and lights candles in memory of the victims, there are many people who are questioning whether the peace talks can really be sustained.
These latest outrages have occurred just three months ahead of elections.
Voters will now have to decide whether to stand by Prime Minister Shimon Peres and his vision of peace - or select a right wing government which might suspend or slow down the peace process.
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