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Suicide bombing near old central bus station
in Tel-Aviv
January 5, 2003
Twenty-three people - 15 Israelis and 8 foreign nationals - were killed and about 120 wounded when two Palestinian suicide bombers blew themselves up on a pedestrian mall in the Neve Sha'anan neighborhood in Tel-Aviv, adjacent to the old central bus station. The mall was packed with shoppers and laborers returning home from work.
The first bombing occurred shortly before 6:30 in the evening near a bus stop on a parallel street to the mall. The second bomber struck about 30 seconds later, outside a cafe. "It is a maneuver we know well," said Tel Aviv police chief Cmdr. Yossi Sedbon. One bomber blows himself up in a crowded space and then the other, hoping to maximize the casualties, detonates his bomb when he is reached by a tide of panicked survivors. The bombs each contained about 15 kilograms of explosives and shrapnel.
Many of the dead and wounded were foreign workers, and the Interior Ministry issued a statement saying nobody seeking medical aid would be subject to expulsion or arrest.
The attack was apparently carried out by two members of the Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, with the help of the Islamic Jihad.
The victims:
- Moshe (Maurice) Aharfi, 60, of Tel-Aviv
- Mordechai Evioni, 52, of Holon
- Andrei Friedman, 30, of Tel-Aviv
- Meir Haim, 74, of Azor
- Hannah Haimov, 53, of Tel Aviv
- Avi Kotzer, 43, of Bat Yam
- Ramin Nasibov, 25, of Tel-Aviv
- Staff Sgt. Mazal Orkobi, 20, of Azor
- Ilanit Peled, 32, of Azor
- Viktor Shebayev, 62, of Holon
- Boris Tepalshvili, 51, of Yehud
- Sapira Shoshana Yulzari-Yaffe, 46, of Bat Yam
- Lilya Zibstein, 33, of Haifa
- Amiram Zmora, 55, of Holon
- Igor Zobokov, 32, of Bat Yam
Foreign nationals:
- Krassimir Mitkov Angelov, 32, of Bulgaria
- Steven Arthur Cromwell, 43, of Ghana
- Ivan Gaptoniak, 46, of Ukraine
- Ion Nicolae, 34, of Romania
- Guo Aiping, 47, of China
- Li Peizhong, 41, of China
- Mihai Sabau, 38, of Romania
- Zhang Minmin, 50, of China died of her wounds on January 13.
Reactions of world leaders:
U.S. President George Bush (January 5, 2003):
Today terrorists struck again in Israel, murdering and injuring scores of civilians in Tel Aviv. I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms. It is a despicable act of murder, and I express my condolences to the government and people of Israel and especially to the families of the victims. Secretary Powell has already spoken to Prime Minister Sharon to convey the condolences of the American people. The United States remains determined to continue our efforts toward peace in the Middle East, a goal that the terrorists seek to destroy. All who genuinely seek peace in the region must join in the effort to stop terror. The United States is determined to continue the global fight against terrorism and against the terrorist organizations that conduct operations such as the murders in Israel today."
The European Union Presidency press release (January 5, 2003):
"The Presidency of the European Union condemns in the strongest possible terms the suicide bombings, which took place tonight in Tel Aviv and cost the lives of at least 18 innocent civilians. It expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the victims. The Presidency reiterates the Union's position that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people cannot be promoted through acts of terrorism. It also expresses the hope that today's despicable events will not be allowed to fuel hatred and to play into the hands of extremists."
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan (Spokesman's statement, January 5, 2003):
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the double suicide bombing by Palestinian militants yesterday in Tel Aviv that killed at least 23 people and wounded more than 100. He sends his deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims. The Secretary-General reiterates his long-standing position that such terrorist bombings are morally reprehensible and completely unjustified. They also run counter to every effort to find a peaceful solution to the current crisis.
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