7 Israeli Arabs Arrested in Bus Bombing

Israeli forces arrested seven Israeli Arabs on Monday who allegedly helped a Palestinian suicide bomber blow up a commuter bus. A leader of the Islamic militant group Hamas was detained in a separate raid.

The seven Israeli Arabs, all members of the same family, are accused of involvement in an Aug. 4 suicide bombing on a bus at the Meron junction in northern Israel. The blast killed nine passengers and pedestrians.

Police said the suspects helped store explosives in a nursery school, dressed the assailant as a tourist and then scouted the target--a bus filled with Israeli soldiers and civilians.

Raanan Gissin, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s spokesman, called the arrests an “ominous development” and said militants “are [trying] to recruit Israeli Arabs to participate actively in terrorist activity.” But Gissin and Israeli Arab leaders noted that the vast majority of Israel’s 1 million Arab citizens are not engaged in terrorism.

Meanwhile, in the West Bank, Israeli troops raided the Jenin refugee camp and arrested Jamal Abul Haji, 44, a regional leader of Hamas. Israeli security sources said he was behind three suicide bombings that killed 39 people.

Also Monday, the Israeli military announced a series of steps to ease restrictions on Bethlehem, which was handed over to Palestinian security Aug. 20. “Because of the relative calm,” a military statement said, Israel will allow workers, merchants and merchandise from Bethlehem to enter Israel. Also, teachers and clergy are to have freedom of movement.