Israel has cancelled a security meeting with Palestinian officials planned for today, after a Palestinian suicide bombing in central Jerusalem killed two Israelis. The Palestinian Authority condemned the latest attack, which was claimed on behalf of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a radical offshoot of Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement.
The Israeli Prime Minister is to meet US envoy Anthony Zinni this evening to discuss US-led efforts to broker a truce after 18 months of Middle East bloodshed. The Israeli source said Ariel Sharon would convene senior cabinet ministers after his talks with Mr Zinni to discuss the latest attack in a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation.
The area at King George Street has been the scene of repeated Palestinian attacks, including the Sbarro pizzeria bombing last August that killed 16 people, including the bomber. The attack came at a crucial moment, as Palestinian and Israeli security officials were due to meet to discuss a ceasefire.
Elsewhere, President Bush has said that he was disappointed with Yasser Arafat's efforts to curb violence in the Middle East. He urged the Palestinian leader to do more. The President was speaking to reporters in the Oval Office after meeting with US Vice President, Dick Cheney, who returned on Wednesday from a trip to the Middle East.
President Bush said that some progress was being made in efforts to broker a ceasefire in the region. Dick Cheney has said he was prepared to meet the Palestinian leader if he kept his pledge to achieve a ceasefire.
