Attacks in Ashkelon, Jerusalem – Letter from Israel

GENERAL ASSEMBLY SECURITY COUNCIL

Fifty-first session Fifty-first year

MEASURES TO ELIMINATE INTERNATIONAL

   TERRORISM

Letter dated 26 February 1996 from the Permanent Representative of

Israel to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

Two grave acts of terrorism were perpetrated by Palestinian extremists yesterday in Israel.

On Sunday morning, at 6.48 a.m. local time, a Hamas terrorist detonated a bomb on a commuter bus travelling in rush-hour traffic in downtown Jerusalem.  According to the most recent accounts, the explosion killed 24 Israelis and injured an additional 51.

Fifty minutes later, at approximately 7.30 a.m. local time, another terrorist with a bomb strapped to his body walked into a crowd of Israelis and blew himself up in the town of Ashkelon.  One Israeli was killed as a result of this act of terror and 36 were wounded, 7 of them critically.

Sources from the military wing of the fundamentalist organization Hamas have claimed responsibility for the two suicide bombings.

These terrorist acts occurred one day after Israel lifted its closure of the Gaza Strip and West Bank, in response to appeals from the Palestinian Authority as well as from sources from the international community.

Recently, the redeployment of the Israeli Defence Forces from six Palestinian cities in the West Bank and the holding of elections for the Palestinian Council throughout the territories were completed.  These achievements were reached within the framework of the Declaration of Principles signed by Israel and the PLO on 13 September 1993.  The crimes were intended not only to kill Israelis, but to derail the peace process as well.  The attackers and those who sent them are enemies of peace and of the people of the Middle East who seek a better future – Arab and Jew alike.

Israel will not allow terrorism to upset the progress made thus far in implementing the Declaration of Principles.  Israel remains committed to working with the Palestinians towards achieving peace.  At the same time, Israel will take all measures necessary to combat terrorism and ensure the security of its citizens.

Israel has demanded that the Palestinian Authority take more active measures to intensify its war against terrorism, particularly against terrorism emanating from the Palestinian self-rule areas.

Israel calls upon all Member States to join those who have already unequivocally condemned this crime and to support the peace process and the battle against terrorism.

I should be grateful if you would have the text of the present letter circulated as an official document of the General Assembly, under the item entitled "Measures to eliminate international terrorism", and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Gad YAACOBI

    Ambassador

  Permanent Representative of Israel

  to the United Nations

—–