Israel Suicide Bombing Kills Eight

An Islamic militant blew himself up on a packed commuter bus during the morning rush hour in northern Israel today, killing himself and at least seven passengers, including four soldiers.

Despite the blast, which also wounded 27 Israelis, 10 of them seriously, a crucial round of ceasefire talks brokered by the US mediator, Anthony Zinni, was expected to take place later today.

Palestinian security officials have said a ceasefire declaration is possible after the meeting. The militant Islamic Jihad group claimed responsibility for the blast that went off at 0510 GMT on a highway south of the town of Afula, blowing out the sides of the bus and sending passengers flying into the air.

The bus attack came at a time when a Saudi peace plan, which calls for an Israeli withdrawal from all occupied territories in exchange for comprehensive peace with the Arab world, gained support. The head of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, said yesterday that his organisation backed the plan that is to be presented at next week's Arab summit in Beirut, Lebanon. The Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, said the latest bombing showed that the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, had "not moved away from a policy of terror, has not taken any steps and has not given any orders to stop attacks".

Israel Radio, citing sources close to Mr Sharon, said that Israel would nonetheless hold back from retaliation and would not cancel today's talks during which the Palestinians are expected to respond to Israel's proposal for a truce timetable. Last night, the Palestinian Cabinet reaffirmed its commitment to a peace plan worked out last year by the CIA chief, George Tenet. The plan calls on Palestinian security forces to disarm militias and arrest suspected militants.

Israeli officials have expressed doubt about the Palestinians' ability to carry out the pledge, since militias, even those loyal to Mr Arafat, have become increasingly powerful in the past 18 months of fighting. Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which have carried out scores of attacks on Israelis, have said they would not honour a truce.

A Hamas spokesman, Ismail Abu Shanab, said today that attacks on Israelis would continue.

"Our people are facing aggression until this moment, and our resistance will continue as long as the occupation exists on our land," he said.

In today's attack, the suicide bomber boarded a crowded bus and blew himself up as the bus was driving on a main highway on the outskirts of the Arab village of Musmus. Witnesses said the attacker walked toward a group of soldiers sitting in the back of the bus. Four of the dead were soldiers, the military said. Media reports said many of the casualties were Israeli Arabs.

Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility. The group identified the attacker as Rafat Abu Diyak, 24, from the West Bank town of Jenin, and said the bombing came as revenge for Israel's killing of group members in recent military strikes. Since the outbreak of fighting in September 2000, 1,218 people have been killed on the Palestinian side and 359 on the Israeli side. Israel's security Cabinet, meanwhile, discussed a decision by Sharon to lift a travel ban on Mr Arafat that would allow him to attend the Arab summit if a truce takes hold. Several ministers have proposed that Mr Arafat should not be allowed back in to the country.