Israeli security forces clear through the debris of the market

Israel Cancels Negotiations, Launches Raids into West Bank

Soon after the talks were cancelled, Israeli troops launched raids into the West Bank, arresting dozens of suspected Palestinian militants. Among them were relatives of two youths, Saad Sadq al-Till and Majed al-Qaisiya, who may have been involved in the bombing.

Israel also issued an arrest warrant for the Palestinian police chief, Ghazi Jebali, because of his suspected encouragement of attacks on Jewish settlements.

Palestinian minister Nabil Sha'ath claimed that the raids and the arrest warrant against Mr Jebali "represent a declaration of a limited war against the Palestinian Authority."

The alleged Hamas leaflet

A leaflet issued in the name of the militant Islamist organisation, Hamas, claimed responsibility for the Jerusalem bombs. Hamas gave Israel until 1800 GMT on Sunday to release all Palestinian prisoners.

But Israel holds the Palestinian Authority responsible for the Mahane Yehuda attack. The inner security cabinet, which met on Wednesday afternoon, made it clear that Israel was not prepared to resume talks with the Palestinians as long as the security of its citizens was under threat.

Thursday's raids followed Israel's warning on that it would send troops into Palestinian-controlled areas if the Palestinian Authority, headed by Yasser Arafat, fails to prevent attacks.

Israel's Ambassador to the UK, Moshe Raviv, talks to the BBC about the Jerusalem bombs and their aftermath

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's spokesman, Shai Bazak, told Israel Radio there would be no further negotiations "so long as the Palestinian Authority doesn't take steps it is committed to."

Mr Bazak said that the Palestinian Authority had not fulfilled its obligation to wage "war against terrorist organisations."

Mourners at Thursday's funeral of one of the bomb victims

He declared: "The cabinet has directed the army and security forces to take a series of steps against the Palestinian terrorist organisations. I will not elaborate on that subject."

David Bar-Illan, an advisor to Mr Netanyahu, said that if necessary, Israel would enter the Palestinian self-rule areas to "get the terrorists".

David Bar-Illan: Israel will "get the terrorists"

David Bar-Illan warns that Israel will raid Palestinian areas

"If the Palestinian Authority is not going to do what it is supposed to do against the terrorists, Israel will have to do it," said Mr Bar-Illan.

Israel has sealed its borders with the Palestinian self-rule areas. Mr Arafat, meanwhile, has declared a state of emergency and has begun arresting members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

But Mr Netanyahu wants an even tougher approach. He made that clear to Mr Arafat when he brusquely rejected the Palestinian leaders' message of condolence during a telephone conversation on Wednesday.

Israel has sealed its border with Palestinian areas

There is no indication as to when the peace talks might resume. The American Envoy Dennis Ross, who was due in the Middle East on Thursday, cancelled his visit.

Palestinian leaders have urged Israel to return to the negotiating table. "Every punishment against the Palestinian administration strengthens those who are against the peace process," said Faisal Husseini, a senior Palestinian cabinet minister.

Mourning candles at the Mahane Yehuda market

In Jerusalem, the Mahane Yehuda market opened for business as usual on Thursday. Vegetable merchant Uri Mizrachi told reporters: "We cannot be broken. I tell the customers to continue to come to the market and show that we will always remain strong."

But Jerusalem police have not discounted the possibility of further bombs. "Our working assumption is that there will be another attack," said the city's Deputy Police Chief, Miki Levy.

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