Steve Quayle News Alerts

June 18, 2002
By HERB KEINON

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon went immediately to the site of the attack and, not far from where 16 victims of a Palestinian suicide bomber lay in black nylon sacks on the sidewalk, wondered aloud about the Palestinian state presently on the agenda.

"The terrible sights we have seen here are stronger than any words," Sharon said, having arrived at the scene near the Pat neighborhood in Jerusalem, less than two hours after the attack.

"We have to fight, to struggle, and that is what we will do.

"It is interesting to know what kind of Palestinian state they mean. What Palestinian state?

"The horrible thing that we see here is a continuation of Palestinian terror, and against this terror we must fight and struggle, and that we will do."

This was the first time Sharon went to the site of an attack immediately afterward, and saw close up the bodies on the pavement, and the shell of the burned-out bus.

He arrived on the scene, protected by a large security detail, about an hour after the attack.

After being briefed by security officials at the scene, he spoke briefly to the press. He was accompanied by Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert and a number of cabinet ministers.

Sharon is expected to hold security consultations this morning to consider Israel's response to the latest attack.

Foreign Minister Shimon Peres cut short his visit to Bulgaria and is expected to return this evening.

The attack comes as Jerusalem is waiting for President George W. Bush's policy speech on the Middle East. Speculation has been rife that one of the ideas Bush may raise is a "provisional" Palestinian state.

Sharon has come out against the idea until there is a complete end to terror and incitement, and real reforms inside the Palestinian Authority.

(With The Jeruisalem Post Internet Staff, AP)
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