The victims of the attack were IDF soldiers Avi Ben-Haroush, 20, and Hanit Arami, 19, both of nearby Zichron Yaacov.

Shortly after 7:30 p.m. yesterday, a loud blast rocked

"I saw him raise his left arm and press down on something in his hand." - bombing eyewitness

Binyamina. According to some eyewitness accounts, the suicide bomber, a young man wearing a brown plaid flannel shirt, got out of a green car and approached a bus stop outside the Binyamina train station.

"I saw him raise his left arm and press down on something in his hand," reported Asher Ben-David, a 44-year-old resident of Pardess Hanna who was in his car about ten meters from the site of the explosion. "He exploded and landed on my windshield. I ran out of my car and saw the dead soldier on the ground and all those injured. I was in shock."

Security forces had been on high alert in the Binyamina area for days with warnings of possible terrorist attacks. Police sources suspect that the intention of the bomber may have been to enter the station, or actually to board a train inside, but seeing the guards stationed at the entrance diverted him to the bus stop instead.

A massive police alert went into affect immediately after the blast in attempts to apprehend the car seen at the Binyamina station. According to media reports, a lengthy chase ensued, involving helicopters. A car was stopped and police took its two passengers into custody, but IDF Radio reported this morning that one of the passengers was released and it was not clear if there was a connection to the bombing.

The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack. The suicide bomber was identified as Nidal Shadouf, 21, from Burkin, a village near Nablus. According to an Israel Radio report, Shadouf was a former member of the Fatah who joined Islamic Jihad two months ago with the express purpose of enacting a suicide bombing.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Maccabiah Games, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon condemned the Palestinian leadership for the attack, which "shows that the Palestinian Authority has not yet made a decision to fight against terror.''

A statement issued by the Palestinians condemned the bombing and called for "a stop to all violent actions from all sides'' and implementation of peace plans. According to media reports, Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat met during the night with representatives of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad and warned them against future attacks within Israel. Earlier in the day, West Bank Preventive Security head Jibril Rajoub said attacks within the Green Line were "against Palestinian interests."

IDF shells Palestinian security positions
IDF tanks and artillery shelled Palestinian security positions in Jenin and Tulkarm around midnight in response to the Binyamina suicide attack. Army Radio reported that shells hit PA Force 17 targets in the eastern edge of Jenin. Palestinian positions in the south and west of the city were also demolished in the shelling. The IDF did not enter Palestinian-controlled areas.

According to media reports, an electrical transformer was hit in Tulkarm causing a power blackout in the city. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Last night's IDF actions were part of a new IDF policy, dubbed "Revolving Doors," to immediately respond to terrorist activities. Yesterday Israeli tanks temporarily entered Palestinian territories near Hebron and Tulkarm, destroying Palestinian police outposts, after shooting attacks in those areas. According to an official statement, "the IDF will continue to act according to the understandings of the Tenet Agreement, but will however, accordingly respond to any injury of Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers."

Israel Radio reported yesterday that some government ministers had criticized the nature of the response to the Binyamina attack, reportedly saying that it had been too slow, was ineffective and undermined Israel's deterrent capacity.

Israeli Police Commissioner Shlomo Aharonishky told Israel Radio this morning that there were additional warnings of possible terrorist actions in the next few days; security forces remain on high alert. Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer canceled his planned trip to the United States and will meet this afternoon with Sharon, reportedly without Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, in the context of the mini-defense cabinet, which has the authority to approve additional operations against the Palestinians.

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