Bomb kills 2 in Israel

Kfar Saba bus bomb attack     WEB EXCLUSIVE Ben Wedeman: Continuing violence in Gaza and the West Bank

JERUSALEM -- Israel is blaming the Palestinian Authority for a suicide bomb attack at a bus stop near Tel Aviv which killed two people. Palestinian officials rejected the claim.

The bomber is believed to have set off the explosion just as a bus pulled up to pick up passengers in a crowded area of the town of Kfar Saba.

Police are working on the theory that the bomber is one of the two fatalities. Among 41 injured in the explosion is a boy of 15 said to be in a serious condition.

Prime MinisterAriel Sharon 's spokesman Raanan Gissin said: "The ultimate or overall responsibility lies squarely on the shoulders of the Palestinian Authority."

But Tayeb Abdel Rahim, a top aide to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat , said: "The Palestinian Authority rejects Israeli accusations that it is responsible for the explosion."

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast. But senior officials in Hamas and Islamic Jihad, militant Islamic movements outside Arafat's control, said they supported the attack and called for more Palestinian resistance.

VIDEO This is yet another in a series of bombings. CNN's Jerrold Kessel reports (April 22) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Mike Hanna reports on attacks that Israel says are retaliation for Palestinian mortar fire (April 21) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     AUDIO CNN's Jerrold Kessel: Confrontation rages on 382K/35 sec. AIFF or WAV sound CNN's Mike Hanna: Ongoing security contacts 490K/45 sec. AIFF or WAV sound     MESSAGE BOARD Share your thoughts on the struggle for Mideast peace

Israel has been on high alert for months for possible bombings and suicide attacks by militants as the Palestinian uprising rages in Gaza and the West Bank.

Kfar Saba, about 20 km (12 miles) north of Tel Aviv, is near Israel's border with the West Bank and has been a frequent target of Palestinian militant attacks.

The blast comes as the Israeli security cabinet convened in Jerusalem just hours after meeting Palestinian security chiefs at the Erez checkpoint.

CNN's Jerrold Kessel said the cabinet was discussing how to handle the latest phase of violence in the region.

In a statement issued after the meeting, Israel said it will work to bring and end to the violence and ease restrictions on the Palestinian territories.

An earlier statement issued by the office of Sharon after the three-hour Erez meeting said that a "good and serious" mood had prevailed.

It added that the two sides "agreed upon long-term and ongoing security cooperation," Reuters News Agency reported.

"It was decided to implement a series of steps which would bring about a cessation of the ongoing terror and violence and the continuation of the easing of civil and economic restrictions on the Palestinians," the statement said.

On Saturday Israel had attacked a Palestinian police post in Gaza.

The Israeli move into Palestinian-controlled territory was the latest in a series of raids into the coastal strip this week. Israel's military says the moves are retaliation for Palestinian mortar attacks.

Palestinian Authority officials say they have arrested several people for firing mortars from populated areas. But the radical Palestinian group Hamas said Saturday it would continue the mortar strikes.

"We have to convince the Israelis that their existence in our occupied territories is going to cost a lot," Hamas spokesman Mahmoud al-Zahar said. "Without reaching this conclusion, they will not withdraw from Palestinian areas."

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israeli Prime Minister's Office
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Palestinian National Authority
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Permanent Mission of Palestine to the U.N.
U.S. State Dept: Near eastern affairs
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