CNN - No. 18 bus route still has riders

Despite bombings, No. 18 bus route still has riders

Terrorist suspects rounded up

March 4, 1996
Web posted at: 11:00 a.m. EST (1600 GMT)

From Bureau Chief Walter Rodgers

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli troops and Palestinian police rounded up terrorist suspects Monday as residents on both sides of the border debated the value of proceeding with peace negotiations.

"Terrorism is our enemy"

-- Palestinian peace rally

"Peace is destroying us."

-- Israeli man

The arrests were prompted by Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres' declaration of a "total war against Hamas," an Islamic extremist group that has killed 48 people in three suicide bombings within the last two weeks in Israel. More people were killed in a bombing Monday near a shopping center.

Two of the previous bombings occurred along the route taken by the No. 18 bus in Jerusalem, where security has been tightened.

About 1,000 soldiers were stationed at bus stops to monitor passengers and bystanders. An extra 1,200 police officers patrolled Jerusalem. Despite the precautions, passengers getting off the No. 18 bus Monday seemed relieved to have survived their ride.

Dozens of arrests

Two of the suicide bombers lived in the West Bank refugee camp of Al Fawar where Israeli troops herded about 800 Palestinian men into a school yard. Other troops searched homes in the camp. The Israeli army commander for the area said dozens of suspected militants were arrested in Al Fawar and nearby Hebron, including those who helped the two suicide bombers.

Despite last fall's Israeli troop withdrawal from some Palestinian towns, only about 5 percent of West Bank land is under the complete control of Yasser Arafat, president of the Palestinian Authority. Al Fawar is part of another sector where Palestinian police have been deployed, but Israel retains overall control over security.

Palestinians make arrests, too

Also Monday, Palestinian security forces, under pressure from Israel, rounded up 125 more suspected militants overnight in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, bringing to 380 the number arrested since the first two bombings February 25.

Palestinian Attorney General Khaled Kidreh said members of the Hamas military wing, Izzedine al Qassam, were among those arrested and that some weapons had been seized in raids.

With Palestinian territories again sealed off by Israel, thousands of Palestinians in Gaza City demonstrated Monday against the Hamas attacks and in support of peace with Israel.

"Yes to peace, no to violence," read a banner in Hebrew. "Terrorism is our enemy," proclaimed another sign.

Arafat's Fatah movement supporters organized the peace rally amid concern that support in Israel for continuing peace talks with the Palestinians was slipping as a result of the attacks.

The demonstration marked the first time since the start of self-rule in May 1994 that Palestinians took to the streets to distance themselves from attacks by militants.

Aftermath of bus bombing

Most of those killed in Sunday's bus bombing were non-Israelis. The dead included five migrant workers from Romania, a Romanian tourist, an Ethiopian tourist and two Palestinians, as well as the bomber. Ten people were wounded.

The suicide bombers have been disguising themselves as Israeli soldiers. Israeli security personnel now check everyone riding the No. 18 bus.

"I'm not afraid. You have to trust your luck," said one passenger, riding a nearly-full bus along the route on Monday.

Other Israelis placed their trust in something higher than luck, praying and lighting candles at the site of Sunday's terrorist attack. (114K AIFF sound or 114K WAV sound) But the bombing also brought arguments as Israelis debated whether to continue the peace process and support Peres in an election scheduled for May.

"Whoever votes for the Peres Labor Party is a criminal," shouted one man. "Peace is destroying us."

Syria said on Monday that Israel can never enjoy security or stability if it does not work to achieve a real and just peace with Arabs. Syrian-Israeli peace talks in the United States have been put off until Wednesday because of the victims' funerals.

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The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.