PNA Condemns Bombing Attack in Jerusalem

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) condemned in a statement on Saturday the suicide bombing attack by a Palestinian suicide bomber in Jerusalem killing nine Israelis and wounding 57 others.

"The PNA clearly condemned and is condemning any attack that targets civilians either they are Israelis or Palestinians especially today's operation that targeted civilians in a Jewish Orthodox neighborhood in Jerusalem," said the PNA statement.

At least nine people, including a one-year-old baby girl, were killed and more than 50 others were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up in the ultra-Orthodox Beit Yisrael neighborhood of Jerusalem on Saturday evening.

The PNA also accused Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government for being responsible for the current escalation in the region, adding that this escalation had left dozens of people killed and hundreds injured in both sides.

At least 26 Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers were shot dead during the past three-day's Israeli air and ground operations into the West Bank refugee camps of Balata and Jenin. More than 250 people were injured.

"The Palestinian authority is again renewing its commitments to the peace process, and implementing the signed agreements including (George) Tenet's plan and Mitchell report recommendations," added the statement.

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2002)