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Israel Bars Palestinians From Key Meetings After Tel Aviv Attack - 2003-01-06


Israel has barred Palestinian officials from two key meetings this month in the wake of a double suicide bombing.

The Israeli government said it will prevent Palestinian officials from attending a conference in London next week to discuss internal reforms in the Palestinian territories.

Israel also will not allow the Palestinian Central Council to hold a planned meeting this week in Ramallah to consider a new Palestinian constitution. And Israel said it will shut down three Palestinian universities allegedly used to incite violence.

Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat said Israel is trying to prevent the peace process from moving forward.

The developments came hours after two Palestinian suicide bombers blew themselves up Sunday in Tel Aviv, killing at least 22 people and wounding 100 others. Many of the victims were migrant workers.

Palestinian officials condemned the bombings, as did Russia, China, the European Union and the United States. On Monday, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Israel has the right to defend itself, but he added that it should be mindful of the consequences of that right.

The militant group Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, which is linked to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, claimed responsibility for the attack and named two men from Nablus as the bombers.

Hours after the bombings, Israeli helicopter gunships fired missiles at two metal-processing workshops in Gaza City. Israeli officials say the workshops were used to make weapons.

Palestinians say eight people were slightly wounded in the helicopter strike.

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