A Palestinian construction worker killed three people when he drove a large bulldozer into oncoming traffic on a busy Jerusalem street, crushing cars and overturning a bus. At least 44 people were injured, including car-drivers, pedestrians and passengers on the bus which was travelling on Jaffa Road through West Jerusalem. Police said the man, a Palestinian aged 30 and a resident of East Jerusalem, seized control of the bulldozer and drove several hundred meters down the street before he was overpowered by policemen and private security guards and shot dead. Three Palestinian militant groups claimed responsibility for the killings, but there was no confirmation that the attack had been organized in advance.
In a statement, the World Jewish Congress expressed outrage at the terrorist attack. WJC president Ronald S. Lauder said: "This brutal act of terrorism perpetrated against innocent civilians in the streets of Jerusalem is particularly painful, as it comes at the very moment when peace negotiations are taking place. Any hopes for the success of this peace process are sadly undermined by those who commit these atrocities in the name of their extremist ideologies and goals." Matthew Bronfman, chairman of the WJC Governing Board, stated: "This deadly incident underscores the need to continue to confront and battle terrorism not only in the Middle East but all over the world. The international community must strengthen its resolve to show that it will not tolerate states or groups that support and commit terrorist acts."
