Scores of Israelis killed, in bus explosion in Jerusalem, Israeli ends talks with the Palestinians, freezes withdrawals

At least 13 persons were killed at least and other 80 were wounded in an Israeli bus explosion in western Jerusalem.

The explosion took place in the western part of occupied Jerusalem at a street near al-Zeitoun ( olive ) hotel which is close from the Palestinian Beit al-Sharq ( Orient House) in East Jerusalem. The Israeli security forces hurried to the place and permitted ambulances to take the wounded.

Israeli medical sources said that 13 persons were killed at least and other 80 Israelis were wounded, some of them in critical health conditions.

The Israeli sources did not confirm whether the explosion was a result of a suicide operation or blowing up of an explosive placed in the bus.

No Palestinian side claimed responsibility for the explosion. The Islamic Jihad movement vowed to revenge for the assassination of one of its leaders in Hebron last week.

Israel however, has suspended security talks with the Palestinians and it froze withdrawal which were due from the cities of the West Bank this week.