->NiKChE at 14:54, 19 May 2021

2021-05-19T14:54:21Z

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{{Distinguish|Jaffa Street bombing}}
{{Infobox terrorist attack
| title = Jaffa Road bus bombing (February 25, 1996)
| image = HAMAS suicide bombing in Jerusalem on 25 February (DoS Publication 10321).png
| caption = Aftermath of the Jaffa Road bus bombings
| image_size =
| location = [[Jerusalem]]
| target = bus
| date = February 25, 1996
| time-begin =
| time-end =
| timezone =
| type = [[suicide bomber]]
| fatalities = 17 Israeli civilians<br>9 Israeli soldiers (+ 1 suicide bomber)
| injuries = 48 mostly civilians
| perps = Palestinian assailant, trained, armed, and supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kelly|first1=Michael|title=Bus on Jaffa Road: A Story of Middle East Terrorism and the Search for Justice|date=2014|publisher=Lyons Press|pages=164–179}}</ref> [[Hamas]] claimed responsibility.
}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2013}}

The '''Jaffa Road bus bombings''' were terrorist attacks on two No. 18 buses in [[Jerusalem]], in 1996. [[Hamas]] [[suicide bombers]] killed 45 people in the attacks,<ref>[http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Palestinian+terror+before+2000/Suicide%20and%20Other%20Bombing%20Attacks%20in%20Israel%20Since Suicide and Other Bombing Attacks in Israel Since the Declaration of Principles (Sept 1993)]. Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs</ref> which were masterminded by [[Mohammed Deif]], using explosives prepared by Adnan Awul.<ref>[http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2000/10/Terrorists%20Recently%20Released%20by%20the%20Palestinian%20Au Terrorists Recently Released by the Palestinian Authority – 12-Oct-2000]. Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs</ref> These two bombings, within a few days of each other, occurred during a Hamas offensive launched after the killing of [[Yahya Ayyash]], which also included the [[French Hill attacks|French Hill]] neighborhood attack, a suicide bombing in [[Ashkelon]], and a [[Dizengoff Center suicide bombing|terrorist attack near Dizengoff Center]] in [[Tel Aviv]].

==First bombing==
On the morning of February 25, 1996, a suicide bomber blew himself up on a No.18 bus traveling down [[Jaffa Road]] near the [[Jerusalem Central Bus Station]]. 17 civilians and 9 Israeli soldiers were killed and 48, mostly civilians, injured.

In 2014 journalist [[Mike Kelly (journalist)|Mike Kelly]] published ''The Bus on Jaffa Road; A Story of Middle East Terrorism and the Search for Justice''. ''[[Kirkus Reviews]]'' praised it as, "a spiral of horror and reckoning".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kirkus|title=The Bus on Jaffa Road; A Story of Middle East Terrorism and the Search for Justice|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/mike-kelly/the-bus-on-jaffa-road/|accessdate=29 October 2014|publisher=Kirkus Reviews|date=7 October 2014}}</ref>

According to Kelly, [[Yassir Arafat]] was aware of these planned bombings.<ref name="A Search for Justice">{{cite news|last1=Leichman|first1=Abigail Klein|title=A Search for Justice|url=http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Book-Review-A-search-for-justice-378292|accessdate=29 October 2014|publisher=Jerusalem Post|date=7 October 2014}}</ref>

===Attack planner===

Hamas operative Hassan Salameh was captured by Israel in Hebron in May, 1996.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Inquirer|title=Israel Arrests A Hamas Leader Hassan Salameh Was Shot And Wounded In A Chase. He Is Believed To Have Planned Three Of This Year's Bombings|url=http://articles.philly.com/1996-05-19/news/25624331_1_hassan-salameh-israel-arrests-israeli-troops|accessdate=29 October 2014|agency=INQUIRER WIRE SERVICES|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=19 May 1996}}</ref> Israel, which has only once imposed a death penalty, sentenced Salameh to 46 consecutive life sentences for directing 3 mass-casualty attacks.<ref>{{cite news|last1=TribuneNews|title=Israel Gives Islamic Radical 46 Life Sentences In Bombings|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-07-08/news/9707080325_1_three-suicide-bombings-hassan-salameh-peace-talks|agency=Tribune News Services|website=Chicago Tribune|date=8 July 1997}}</ref> Salameh, a devout Muslim, has continued to maintain that he acted in a righteous manner in bombing civilian buses, saying, "I believe what I did is a legitimate right my religion and all of the world gave me..." in 1997,<ref>{{cite news|last1=LoLordo|first1=Ann|title=Hamas' deadly defender Accused terrorist is a pariah to Israel, hero to Palestinians|url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1997-03-31/news/1997090044_1_hassan-salameh-hamas-terror-gaza-strip|accessdate=29 October 2014|agency=Sun Foreign Staff|website=The Baltimore Sun|date=31 March 1997}}</ref> and in an interview almost 2 decades later.<ref name="A Search for Justice" /> According to [[Mike Kelly (journalist)|Mike Kelly]], Salameh was trained in [[Iran]].<ref name="A Search for Justice" />

==Second bombing==
On the morning of March 3, 1996, a suicide bomber boarded another No. 18 bus, detonating an explosive belt that killed 16 civilians and three Israeli soldiers and wounded 7.{{Infobox terrorist attack
| title = Jaffa Road bus bombing<br>(March 3, 1996)
| image =
| caption =
| location = [[Jerusalem]]
| target = bus
| date = March 3, 1996
| time-begin =
| time-end =
| timezone =
| type = [[suicide bomber]]
| fatalities = 16 Israeli civilians<br>3 Israeli soldiers (+ 1 suicide bomber)
| injuries = 7 civilians
| perps = Lone Palestinian assailant (Mohammed Abdo).<ref>Katz, 279</ref> [[Hamas]] claimed responsibility.
}}
==Legal action==
The families of United States victims Matthew Eisenfeld and Sarah Duker sued [[Iran]] for backing the attack, and won a US$327 million judgment in 2000.<ref name="Horovitz" /> The [[Clinton Administration]] then blocked the families' efforts to seize certain Iranian assets in the United States.<ref name="Horovitz" /> As of 2006 collection efforts continue through legal process.<ref name="Horovitz" /> The families, together with the family of another United States citizen killed in the same attack, now seek as much as US$900 million from Iran.<ref name="Horovitz" /> In 2006 an Italian court domesticated the US court ruling, and temporarily froze Iranian assets.<ref name="Horovitz" /> The plaintiffs have stated that they intend to pursue Iran through other [[European Union]] courts.<ref name="Horovitz">{{cite news |last1=Horovitz |first1=David |title=Vicky and Leonard take on Iran |url=https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Vicki-and-Leonard-take-on-Iran |accessdate=21 December 2018 |agency=The Jerusalem Post |date=28 April 2006}}</ref>[[File:Bus bombing memorial.jpg|thumb|250px|Commemorative plaque for those who died in the March 3, 1996 bus bombing on Jaffa Road]]
==See also==
*[[List of Hamas suicide attacks]]
*[[Palestinian political violence]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Palestinian+terror+before+2000/Fatal%20Terrorist%20Attacks%20in%20Israel%20Since%20the%20DOP%20-S Fatal Terrorist Attacks in Israel Since the DOP (Sept 1993)]

{{Terrorist attacks against Israelis in the 1990s}}
{{Palestinian militancy attacks in the 1990s}}
{{Israeli-Palestinian Conflict}}

[[Category:Explosions in 1996]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in 1996]]
[[Category:February 1996 events in Asia]]
[[Category:March 1996 events in Asia]]
[[Category:Hamas suicide bombings of buses]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Jerusalem]]
[[Category:Mass murder in 1996]]
[[Category:People convicted on terrorism charges]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Jerusalem in the 1990s]]

Jaffa Road bus bombings - Revision history

->NiKChE at 14:54, 19 May 2021