Israel Responds to Bombing; U.S. Envoy Vows to Persevere

Responding to the latest suicide bombing, the Israeli military on Friday occupied Palestinian-controlled land on the outskirts of the West Bank cities of Jenin and Nablus, Israeli radio and a military source said.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the troops did not enter either city. The radio said Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who is visiting the United States, ordered the military moves.

The Palestinian leadership accused Israel of escalating the conflict to sabotage the U.S. peace mission.

The broadcast quoted aides traveling with Sharon as saying he had informed the U.S. special Mideast envoy of the order.

The envoy, retired Marine Corps Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, said his peace mission would not be spoiled by violence and threats by militants.

Zinni said he would stay “as long as it takes.” He made the pledge a day after a Palestinian blew himself up on an intercity bus in northern Israel, killing three passengers. The militant group Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the act and identified the bomber as Samer abu Suleiman.

In all, seven Israelis have died in Palestinian attacks since Zinni’s arrival Monday. Seven Palestinians also have been killed--four assailants and three shot by Israeli troops in other incidents.

After meeting with Israeli President Moshe Katsav on Friday, Zinni said he would stick with his mission of reviving a truce deal and restarting peace talks.

“I want to say that I, in the most strongest sense, condemn this violence,” Zinni said, referring to the suicide bombing. “The groups that do this are clearly trying to make my mission fail. I am determined not to let that happen.”

In Nablus, the Islamic militant group Hamas staged a rally Friday in memory of Mahmoud Abu Hanoud, the leader of its military wing who was killed in a targeted Israeli missile attack last week.

Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer met Zinni on Friday night and informed him that Israel views the Palestinian attacks with the utmost gravity, an official said. Ben-Eliezer also told the envoy that Israeli intelligence has firm evidence that many more attacks are being planned, said Yarden Vatikay, an aide to Ben-Eliezer.