Bomber Attacks Israeli Mall; 2 Killed

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Bomber Attacks Israeli Mall; 2 Killed
Tuesday, July 12, 2005

ERUSALEM — A bomber blew himself up near a crowded shopping mall in the seaside city of Netanya (search) on Tuesday, killing himself and two others. Police said about 30 people were wounded, two seriously.

Initial reports said the bomb went off just before 7 p.m. at the entrance to the mall. However, Israel radio stations said the bomber struck at a nearby intersection.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. It was the second such bombing since a truce declaration on Feb. 8. Two weeks into the truce between Israel and the Palestinians, a bomber killed five Israelis in Tel Aviv.

The chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat (search), condemned Tuesday's bombing. "We understand that those who carried out this attack want to sabotage the efforts being exerted to have a smooth and peaceful disengagement from Gaza and a revival of the peace process," he said.

Netanya is at Israel's narrowest point, nine miles from the West Bank (search). The city has been a frequent target of Palestinian bombers, but the frequency has dropped sharply in the past year, with completion of a section of Israel's separation barrier along that part of the West Bank.

The Netanya mall has been a target for bombers in the past. On May 18, 2001, a bomber blew himself up at the mall, killing five Israelis.