Israeli police and firefighters prevented the detonation of an explosive-laden van in downtown Jerusalem. The van, driven by a Palestinian man, caught fire before the explosives could be set off, according to Jerusalem Police Chief Yair Yitzhaki. Passers-by rescued the driver and called security officials, who discovered the explosives. Israeli officials blamed Hamas for the attempted bombing. A Hamas spokesman in the Gaza Strip said he had no knowledge of the planned attack, and a spokesman for Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat called the incident a “phony act” intended to set back the peace process.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
