Jerusalem hit by bombs

Jerusalem suffered two bomb attacks in six hours

Two bombs have exploded in Jerusalem, within six hours of each other.

Police said one person - believed to be the bomber - was killed in the second blast, which went off near a bus. At least 30 people were wounded.

Everybody in this country is under the direct attack of Mr Arafat and we have to do something about that

Public Security Minister Uzi Landau

The bomber is believed to have had explosives strapped to his body which were detonated next to a bus in the French Hill district of east Jerusalem.

The bombings come at a time when tension is running high in the Palestinian territories.

During clashes near the West Bank village of Dura, an 11-year-old Palestinian boy was shot dead by Israeli troops.

One report said the boy had been watching Israeli soldiers and Palestinian gunman exchange fire when he was hit in the chest.

On Monday, a 10-month-old Israeli baby was killed by gunfire in nearby Hebron.

Emergency meeting

Following Tuesday's bombings, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called an emergency meeting of cabinet ministers and security officials. There are no reports of specific new Israeli action or security measures.

Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said: "They will get nothing from us through force."

Mr Peres went on to say that Israel would not react hastily to the attacks because they were an attempt to "make an impression on the summit" of Arab leaders in Jordan.

Israeli officials again blamed Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat directly for the latest bombings.

"Everybody in this country is under the direct attack of Mr Arafat and we have to do something about that," said Public Security Minister Uzi Landau.

The confrontation is expanding because of the policies announced by Sharon while he is launching an all-out war against the Palestinian people

Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo

In the Jordanian capital Amman, Palestinian officials blamed Israel for provoking the violence.

"The confrontation is expanding because of the policies announced by Sharon while he is launching an all-out war against the Palestinian people," Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said.

Reports say that in violence in the Gaza Strip, at least three Palestinians were injured in clashes with Israeli forces.

Live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets and tear gas were used by troops against about 2,000 demonstrators in Khan Yunis, the main city on the strip.

Car bomb

Earlier, a car bomb exploded near a shopping mall in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Talpiot, injuring three people during the morning rush hour.

Bombs since February election

4 March: Four killed in Netanya

1 March: One killed and nine wounded in Tel Aviv

8 February: Two car bomb explosions in west Jerusalem. No one dies

The militant Palestinian group, Islamic Jihad, said it carried out the earlier blast.

A BBC correspondent in Jerusalem says Israelis will be concerned that the government's security crackdown has failed to stop the attacks happening.

The bombers got through despite a tight security clampdown

The attacks present a challenge to Mr Sharon, who was recently elected promising Israelis security.

More than 400 people have been killed since the uprising began, nearly 350 of them Palestinian, including dozens of children. More than 60 Israelis and 13 Israeli Arabs have died.

Hebron

The Israeli army on Tuesday imposed a complete blockade around Hebron in the West Bank following the killing of 10-month-old Shalhevet Hass in a Jewish settlement in the city on Monday.

The Hass family

Israeli officials said the baby was killed by Palestinian gunfire. The Israeli army shelled the Abu Sneinah district of the Hebron, believed to be the source of the gunfire, on Monday night.

Palestinian officials have said there is no proof that Palestinians were behind the shooting.

Angry Jewish settlers in the city went on the rampage early on Tuesday, setting light to Palestinian businesses and vandalising cars and homes.

Settler leaders called on the Israel army to re-occupy the Abu Sneinah area and criticised Mr Sharon for continuing a policy of restraint in responding to Palestinian violence.