Attack in Beersheba – Letter from Israel

GENERAL ASSEMBLY SECURITY COUNCIL

Fifty-third session Fifty-third year

Agenda item 155

MEASURES TO ELIMINATE INTERNATIONAL

  TERRORISM

Letter dated 20 October 1998 from the Permanent

Representative of Israel to the United Nations 

addressed to the Secretary-General

I wish to draw your attention to a heinous act of terrorism perpetrated yesterday in the Israeli city of Beersheba, carried out by Palestinian terrorists.

In the attack, two fragmentation grenades were hurled at a crowd of passengers in the city's central bus station.  The attack took place close to 8 a.m., when the bus terminal was filled with morning commuters.  Over 64 individuals, including women and children, were injured in the attack, some of them critically.

The Palestinian terrorist suspect was apprehended at the scene of the crime, and is presently under investigation.  It has been ascertained that he is from area H-1 in Hebron, which is under the full security and civilian control of the Palestinian Authority.

The attack was timed to coincide with the Israeli-Palestinian summit meeting taking place in Maryland, and was clearly intended to undermine its success.  It was calculated not only to kill Israelis, but to derail the peace process as well.

The vicious attack underscores Israel's position that effective security measures to combat terrorism must constitute an imperative and central component in any agreement reached between the sides.

I should be grateful if you would have the text of the present letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 155, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Ambassador Dore GOLD  

Permanent Representative

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