This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7282679.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Attack won't halt talks - Israel | Attack won't halt talks - Israel |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The killing of eight people at a Jewish religious college by a Palestinian gunman will not derail peace talks, the Israeli government has said. | The killing of eight people at a Jewish religious college by a Palestinian gunman will not derail peace talks, the Israeli government has said. |
| The gunman was shot dead after opening fire with an assault rifle inside a crowded library at the Mercaz Harav seminary in West Jerusalem. | The gunman was shot dead after opening fire with an assault rifle inside a crowded library at the Mercaz Harav seminary in West Jerusalem. |
| According to the Israelis, he was a resident of East Jerusalem. | According to the Israelis, he was a resident of East Jerusalem. |
| Its foreign ministry said talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who condemned the attack, would continue. | Its foreign ministry said talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who condemned the attack, would continue. |
| At the same time, the government condemned the rival Palestinian movement Hamas, which hailed the attack as a "natural reaction" to Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip last week that left more than 120 Palestinians dead. | At the same time, the government condemned the rival Palestinian movement Hamas, which hailed the attack as a "natural reaction" to Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip last week that left more than 120 Palestinians dead. |
| When we got in... we saw young, 15-, 16-year-old guys lying on the floor with their Bibles in their hands - all dead on the floor Witness href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7282579.stm">Grim mood outside college class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7282453.stm">In pictures: Seminary attackWitnesses describe carnage | |
| "Those celebrating these murders have shown themselves to be the enemies not only of Israel, but the enemies of peace and reconciliation," said Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. | "Those celebrating these murders have shown themselves to be the enemies not only of Israel, but the enemies of peace and reconciliation," said Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. |
| While UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack, the UN Security Council failed to agree on a statement on Thursday night. | While UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack, the UN Security Council failed to agree on a statement on Thursday night. |
| The Libyan representative said his country and several others wanted the council to couple any condemnation of the Jerusalem shootings with one against Israel for killing large numbers of civilians, including children, in Gaza. | The Libyan representative said his country and several others wanted the council to couple any condemnation of the Jerusalem shootings with one against Israel for killing large numbers of civilians, including children, in Gaza. |
| But Russian envoy Vitaly Churkin - who currently chairs the Security Council - asked how bad a terrorist attack had to be for specific condemnation, without going through the entire history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. | But Russian envoy Vitaly Churkin - who currently chairs the Security Council - asked how bad a terrorist attack had to be for specific condemnation, without going through the entire history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. |
| Settler connection | Settler connection |
| The gunman entered the library at the Mercaz Harav seminary on Thursday evening, where about 80 students were gathered, and fired an AK-47 rifle for several minutes, witnesses say. | The gunman entered the library at the Mercaz Harav seminary on Thursday evening, where about 80 students were gathered, and fired an AK-47 rifle for several minutes, witnesses say. |
| DEADLY ATTACKS IN ISRAEL 4 Feb 2008: One dies, Dimona suicide bombing29 Apr 2007: Three die, Eilat suicide bombing17 Apr 2006: Nine die, 40 wounded, suicide bombing near old bus station in Tel Aviv 30 Mar 2006: Four die, Kedumim suicide bombing29 Dec 2005: Thee die, suicide bombing near Tulkarm 5 Dec 2005: Five die, Netanya suicide bombing 26 Oct 2005: Six die, Hadera market suicide bombing 12 July 2005: Two die, Netanya suicide bombing 25 Feb 2005: Five die, 50 hurt, suicide bombing outside Tel Aviv nightclub13 Jan 2005: Six die, suicide bombing at Karni crossing class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7282567.stm"> World reaction in quotes | |
| A student reportedly shot the gunman twice before an off-duty Israeli army officer killed him. | A student reportedly shot the gunman twice before an off-duty Israeli army officer killed him. |
| A previously unknown group called the "Jalil Freedom Battalions - the Martyrs of Imad Mughniyeh and Gaza" claims to have carried it out, according to Lebanese Hezbollah media. | A previously unknown group called the "Jalil Freedom Battalions - the Martyrs of Imad Mughniyeh and Gaza" claims to have carried it out, according to Lebanese Hezbollah media. |
| Imad Mughniyeh, a senior Hezbollah leader and military commander, was killed in a car bomb in Damascus on 12 February. | Imad Mughniyeh, a senior Hezbollah leader and military commander, was killed in a car bomb in Damascus on 12 February. |
| The fact that the school is at the heart of the settler movement in the occupied West Bank may have been the reason why it was targeted, BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen reports. | The fact that the school is at the heart of the settler movement in the occupied West Bank may have been the reason why it was targeted, BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen reports. |
| Many of its students are on special courses that combine religious study with service in combat units in the Israeli army, he notes. | Many of its students are on special courses that combine religious study with service in combat units in the Israeli army, he notes. |
| There will be an Israeli response to this attack, our Middle East editor adds - the question is how severe it will be. | There will be an Israeli response to this attack, our Middle East editor adds - the question is how severe it will be. |
| 'God's vengeance' | 'God's vengeance' |
| Mr Abbas condemned the attack in a statement saying he "condemns all attacks that target civilians, whether they are Palestinian or Israeli". | Mr Abbas condemned the attack in a statement saying he "condemns all attacks that target civilians, whether they are Palestinian or Israeli". |
| Mr Ban also criticised the "deliberate killing and injuring of civilians" in what he called a "savage attack". | Mr Ban also criticised the "deliberate killing and injuring of civilians" in what he called a "savage attack". |
| But in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, gunmen fired into the air after news broke about the attack. | But in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, gunmen fired into the air after news broke about the attack. |
| A loudspeaker in Gaza City reportedly broadcast the message: "This is God's vengeance". | A loudspeaker in Gaza City reportedly broadcast the message: "This is God's vengeance". |
| Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the group "blesses the heroic operation in Jerusalem" calling it a "natural reaction" to Israeli attacks. | Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the group "blesses the heroic operation in Jerusalem" calling it a "natural reaction" to Israeli attacks. |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected by this incident or have you seen or heard anything? Send your comments or pictures using the form below. | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by this incident or have you seen or heard anything? Send your comments or pictures using the form below. |