British Woman Killed in Jerusalem Bombing

In the first terrorist bombing in Jerusalem for over seven years, an unidentified 59-year-old British woman was killed on Wednesday. As bag left next to a bus stop exploded, splintering dozens of bystanders with steel balls, nails and screws. No organization claimed responsibility for the attack, which was widely condemned around the world. U.S. President Barack Obama said “there is never any possible justification for terrorism.” Palestinian Prime Minister Salim Fayyad strongly criticized it, saying that Palestinian attacks had only brought them “disaster and damages.” Hamas remained mum. Israeli security sources believe the bombing could have been the work of a group unaffiliated with the main Palestinian movements.  The Israeli security forces, possibly in coordination with Palestinian counterparts, carried out a sweep of arrests in the West Bank, reportedly capturing two senior members of the Islamic Jihad. Israeli jets struck targets in the Gaza Strip before dawn on Thursday, as Palestinian militants persisted in volleying rockets and mortar shells across the border into southern Israel.