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Paramedics at the scene of the bombing in Beersheva. (Channel One)
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| By israelinsider staff and partners August 28, 2005 |
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Just a week after completion of Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, Palestinian terrorists made a move of their own.
A Palestinian suicide bomber exploded at Beersheva's central bus station, but quick and heroic action by transportation guards, both seriously wounded in their preventative action, averted a far worse disaster.
One of the wounded guards is Lawi Abu Jama'a, a 26-year-old Bedouin and father of two. The other, in his 20s, was identified as Pavel Srotzkin.
Bus driver Nissim Horesh said the terrorist approached him and asked whether he was heading to the hospital. "I told him I don't stop there . . . I suspected him, as he was carrying a heavy backpack and had a plastic bag in his hands. I directed the security guard's attention to him. The guard arrived, maintained eye contact with the terrorist, and called over another guard. Then, the blast occurred."
The first paramedic at the scene, Yaron Barel, told Ynet: "I found two security guards who sustained serious injuries -- they prevented a disaster with their bodies."
One or two guards detected the suspicious character with a backpack and rushed to prevent him from proceeding. He was forced to self-destruct in a relatively open area. Only the security guards were seriously hurt. Others suffered shock.
The injured were taken to the city's Soroka Medical Center. Channel Two said that evidence indicated that the hospital was in fact the primary target.
According to witnesses, the suicide bomber attempted to enter the Beersheva bus station. Other reports from the scene inidcated that the bomber tired to board two different buses and was turned away before attempting to enter the bus station itself.
When the two guards blocked the bomber's entrance to the station, he detonated in a less crowded area outside the station.
Security officials say the suicide bomber came from the South Mount Hebron region, which still lacks a security barrier.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon criticized the Palestinian Authority for failing to take steps to stop terror attacks. "Israel has taken necessary steps to advance the peace process with the Palestinians. The Palestinians have not taken the necessary steps to prevent terror against Israel. Without such steps, there cannot be progress between both sides," David Baker said.
PA minister Saeb Erekat condemned the attack. Hours earlier, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, contradicting statements made earlier by Hamas," told Israel Radio that "The [ceasefire known as] hudna will not end in 2005 but will be upheld indefinitely."
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