Pope condemns suicide bombing in Tel Aviv

Published: 2006-04-19

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI condemned the April 17 suicide bombing in a restaurant in Tel Aviv, Israel, that left nine people dead and more than 50 people injured. In remarks in Italian at the end of his April 19 general audience, the pope said he felt "great pain" after learning of the "terrible attack," adding that he felt it was his "duty to express the firmest condemnation for this terrorist act." A member of the Islamic Jihad carried out the suicide bombing, which happened during the Jewish festival of Passover. Hamas, the ruling party of the Palestinian Authority, said the bombing was an act of self-defense. Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said the only way to stop such attacks was for Israel to stop the occupation of Palestinian lands and to grant full rights and autonomy to Palestinians. Pope Benedict said such "hateful acts" could never guarantee the legitimate rights of a people.

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