Read the entire article here >A security lockdown has been placed across Jerusalem as crowds of mourners gathered for the funerals of eight students killed by an armed Palestinian man.
The gunman, identified as an East Jerusalem resident, was shot dead after opening fire with an automatic weapon at students in the library of the Merkaz Harav Jewish religious school.
There has been no credible claim of responsibility and the motive for Thursday's attack remains unclear.
In Gaza, where recent Isaeli military operations have left more than 120 Palestinians dead, Hamas praised the "heroic operation" while thousands of people poured onto the streets to celebrate.
While not claiming responsibility for the attack, Sami Abu Zuhri, a spokesman for Hamas, said "this heroic attack in Jerusalem is a normal response to the crimes of the occupier and its murder of civilians".
Taher al-Nunu, another spokesman, blamed the attack on Olmert and Ehud Barak, the defence minister.
"We have warned before about the responsibility of the escalation in Gaza and warned of Palestinian anger," he said.
The attacked seminary, located in the Kyriat Moshe neighbourhood, is a well-known centre for Jewish studies linked to those leading the Jewish settler movement in the occupied West Bank.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Israel on high alert after yeshiva attack
From Al Jazeera:
