BBC Sunday, 9 September, 2001, 10:50 GMT 11:50 UK Violence rocks Mid-East Naharia station soon after the attack

A new wave of violence has rocked the Middle East with a two powerful bomb blasts in Israel and shooting incidents in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Israeli media reported that at least four people died when a suicide bomber targeted the train station in the northern coastal town of Naharia.

Another bomb exploded a few hours later at the busy Beit Lid intersection, near the coastal city of Netanya, killing one person, according to Israel radio.

In response, Israeli helicopter gunships have fired missiles at offices of Yasser Arafat's Fatah group in Ramallah, the second such attack in two days.

The latest violence broke out as Israel's cabinet met to discuss tighter security around the West Bank to try to stop militants getting into Israel.

At least 10 people were reported injured by the railway staion bomb, which a police spokesman said exploded in a kiosk nearby.

Soldiers often gather there before returning to their bases after the weekend.

Blame

The Israeli Government accused the Palestinian Authority of doing nothing to stop suicide bombers.

Hours earlier, two Israelis were killed and three injured in a drive-by shooting in the West Bank.

A car with a Palestinian number plate overtook a minibus transporting teachers to settlers' schools in the Jordan Valley and opened fire, an eyewitness said.

The bus driver and a teacher died in the attack, police said.

Counsellors were sent to the schools to help children deal with the psychological trauma.

The militant group Islamic Jihad said in a statement from Beirut that they carried out the attack.

Separately, a Palestinian was killed and another injured in the Gaza Strip by Israeli soldiers, Palestinian security forces said.

The militant Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine told Reuters news agency the men belonged to their group and were on a mission to strike inside Israel.

The latest violence will play into the hands of members of the Israeli cabinet supporting more stringent security measures around the West Bank.

The cabinet was on Sunday considering declaring a series of West Bank enclaves as closed military zones, in the latest attempt to stop Palestinian militants from entering Israel.

The zones have been strongly criticised by the Palestinians living and working there, who say it would make their lives intolerable.

Israel has said Palestinians who live and work in these zones will receive special passes.

Talks doubts

The violence came a day after Israeli helicopters attacked Fatah offices in Ramallah, apparently trying to kill a leading Palestinian militant.

The upsurge in violence casts doubt over possible talks between Mr Arafat and Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres.

The two had been expected to meet soon to try to get a ceasefire back on course.

Speaking of Saturday's helicopter attack, Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said it would "destroy the aims of this meeting before it's even held".

Israel said the strike in Ramallah was retaliation for several shootings in the West Bank by gunmen, with one soldier killed and another seriously injured on Thursday.

-- Anonymous, September 09, 2001

Answers

Sunday, September 9 2:07 PM SGT

Two killed in attack on Israeli school bus

JERUSALEM, Sept 9 (AFP) -

Two Israelis were killed and three wounded when Palestinians opened fire with automatic weapons on a school bus on the West Bank, an Israeli official who was present said.

-- Anonymous, September 09, 2001