TZRIFIN MILITARY BASE, Sept 9: Twelve people, including the suicide bomber, were killed in Israel in two separate bombing incidents, on Tuesday night.

The first occurred when a suspected Palestinian suicide bomber killed at least seven people waiting at a bus stop close to an Israeli military base near Tel Aviv, while four were killed when a bomb went off in a cafe in Al Quds six hours later. A number of people were injured in both incidents.

The firs attack came as Arafat’s choice for his new prime minister, Ahmed Qorei, lobbied for international support to kickstart the stalled peace process, but was still mulling whether to accept the post.

Qorei condemned the attack as a “murderous act” while the Palestinian leadership said a UN Security Council resolution was needed to bring an end to the cycle of violence.

In Gaza, Hamas political leader Abdulaziz Rantissi said the attack was a response to Israeli “crimes”, stopping short of claiming responsibility.

In Al Quds, another explosion at an Israeli cafe in killed at least four people and wounded 40 other others, witnesses said.

The blast occurred at the Hillel cafe in Jewish west Al Quds just hours after a Palestinian suicide bomber killed six people at a bus stop near an army camp outside Tel Aviv. At least six people were wounded and evacuated by ambulances. The blast shattered the glass facade of the cafe.—Agencies