OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, October 21 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - At least 14 Israelis were killed and almost 48 others wounded, six of them seriously, when a car bomb tore apart a bus in northern Israel Monday, October 21, news agencies reported.

A car loaded with explosives and cans of petrol blew up alongside the bus in the town of Pardes Hanna, according to Israeli television and radio reports.

Hadera fire chief Rami Halfon told Israeli television 14 people had been killed.

Eyewitnesses said the bus, on a service route from Kiryat Shmona in the north to Tel Aviv, stopped to take on passengers. The bus burst into flames immediately, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The explosion occurred near the coastal town of Hadera, less than 10 kilometers (six miles) from the West Bank where the Israeli occupation army reoccupied most towns, imposed a strict curfew, to foil Palestinian (resistance) attacks.

The reports said 30 people were hospitalised in Hadera, several in serious condition, four in Afula and four in Meggido.

"As far as we know at this time, a car moved alongside the bus and exploded," police spokesman Haim Bolimovski told Israel television.

"There are many wounded and several dead," regional police chief Moshe Waldman told Israel's Channel Two television.

"I was 60 meters from the bus station... and I heard an explosion. The bus was completely shattered. I saw the bus go up in flames. It was completely wrecked," a witness told Israel Radio.

"I was driving in front of the bus and heard a blast and it all went up in flames," a witness who gave his name as Avi told the radio. "Drivers were terrified but continued driving," according to Israeli daily Ha’aretz.

Hadera is located about half-way between Tel Aviv and Haifa.

For his part, Palestinian President Yasser Arafat condemned the bus bombing, saying he was against "the killing of civilians on both sides."

However, a top advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon promptly blamed Arafat, "by direct commission or omission."

Meanwhile, Palestinian resistance group, Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing, a caller for the Palestinian group told AFP.

"Al-Quds Brigades claims the martyrdom operation and plans to publish details at a later stage," the anonymous caller said.

Islamic Jihad also issued a claim of responsibility in a call to Lebanon's Al-Manar television. The resistance group said that “the operation came in retaliation for continuous Israeli aggressions and killings against our armless people”.

On Friday, October 18, Left-wing opposition chief Yossi Sarid demanded that Israel stop its cruel war machine after the killing by tank fire in the southern Gaza Strip of eight Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and 2 elderly women.

"It is no longer possible to explain or justify how so many innocent men, women and children" are killed by the Israeli army, Sarid said in remarks on Israeli public radio.