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British suicide bomber strikes Israel
British suicide bomber strikes Israel
By Robert Tait in Jerusalem, Roland Watson in Washington and Rosemary Bennett
A BRITISH suicide bomber killed three people in a Tel Aviv café in a blast timed to wreck historic peace efforts, Israeli police said last night. A second Briton was said to have fled after his bomb failed to explode.
Authorities named the pair as 21-year-old Asif Mohammed Hanif, the first European suicide bomber of the Palestinian uprising, and Omar Khan Sharif, of Derby, who was still on the run last night.
Asif Mohammed Hanif
Both were said to have used British passports to enter Israel from the Gaza Strip several days ago in preparation for the attack, which was staged to overshadow publication of the “road map” to peace prepared by America, Russia, the EU and the UN.
The “road map”, which sets out a series of steps that should be taken leading to the creation of an independent Palestinian state in two years’ time, was published hours after Mahmoud Abbas was sworn in as the new Palestinian Prime Minister, promising to crack down on violence.
The 1 am suicide bombing was claimed as a joint operation by al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed offshoot of Yassir Arafat’s Fatah movement, and the hardline Islamic group Hamas. Mr Abbas is expected to confront Hamas, which posted a notice on its website admitting it carried out the attack, although it has yet to name the bombers.
The Britons are thought to have been involved in a confrontation as they tried to enter Mike’s Place, a seafront bar popular with tourists and American and British expatriates. Hanif’s bomb exploded, killing three Israeli citizens — including a French-born woman — and injuring more than 50. But witnesses said that Mr Sharif took off his bomb belt and threw it away when his device failed to go off.
Last night Israeli police launched a huge manhunt for Mr Sharif, 27, who lived until recently in a semi-detached Victorian home near Derby city centre.
Omar Khan Sharif
Mr Sharif is believed to be a follower of the fundamentalist group al-Muhajiroun, which campaigns to turn Britain into an Islamic state, supports Osama bin Laden and endorses the use of violence.
Neighbours said that he had moved away before the outbreak of the Iraq war, saying he was going to Syria to continue his religious studies, and last night his sister, Mimeda, and her husband abruptly left in a white Toyota. An Asian man who answered the door at the house, said simply: “Omar does not live here any more.”
Hanif is the only Briton to have completed a suicide attack — the only previous British bomber, Richard Reid, failed to detonate a device in his shoe on a transatlantic flight — but there is a growing band of Britons apparently willing to give their lives in the cause of Islamic extremism.
Significant numbers of young British Muslims have become battle-hardened in jihads around the world and a London imam has told The Times that hundreds of them have been given training to become terrorists in the al-Qaeda mould. They have been promised that if they die as martyrs for the cause of Islam they will go to heaven and be rewarded with a host of virgins.
The Tel Aviv attack was orchestrated by Hamas, which pledged to wreck the “road map” peace plan before it was even published. “The road map aims to assure security for Israel at the expense of the security of our people,” the Hamas spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, said. “It is a plan to liquidate the Palestinian cause (for independence). It is rejected by us.”
In Washington, President Bush opened a new chapter in Washington’s dealings with the Palestinian Authority last night, describing Mr Abbas as “a man I can work with”.
He also said that Israel would have to make give ground. “Israel is going to have to make some sacrifices in order to take the peace process forward.”
US officials had suggested that Mr Bush would restrain his response to the swearing in of Mr Abbas, lest he were labelled an American stooge. But Mr Bush offered a warm endorsement, saying: “Now that we have an interlocutor from the Palestinian Authority that has spoken clearly about the need to fight terror, we have a good opportunity to advance the peace process. And I will seize the opportunity.” He also announced that he was dispatching Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, to the region next week.
Tony Blair also emphasised the hard work needed to make the plan succeed, but he described the prize as “enormous”. He said he did not underestimate the scale of the task or the commitment it would require, but added: “There is now a real opportunity for both sides to work, with the strong support of the international communtiy, to achieve a just and lasting settlement.”
Israel, however, voiced 15 reservations to the plan. It wants the Palestinians to renounce at the outset of negotiations their demand that the right of return be given to refugees forced to leave at the time of the 1948 War of Independence. It also objects to having to follow a rigid timetable and says that Israeli obligations should be conditional on Mr Abbas restraining militant groups. Israel also wants the plan to be monitored solely by the Americans rather than all four sponsors.
Last night, an Israeli official said Mr Sharon’s Government wanted further discussions on how to implement the road map. “An unequivocal fight against terror is the first step in the road map,” the official said. “We believe Abu Mazen represents an opportunity that we are willing to seize and work with. We are willing to take confidence building steps as a sign of our good faith and show that we are definitely willing to help him.”
Mr Abbas, however, wants the plan to be implemented in its current form. In a speech marking his confirmation in office on Monday, he accused Israel of trying to renegotiate the “road map” and declared: “The road map must be implemented, not negotiated. Therefore, my Government supports the Palestinian leadership in asserting its refusal of the so-called Israeli amendments.”
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