Palestinians kill eight

West Bank

Three Palestinian gunmen dressed as Israeli soldiers blew up a bus near an Orthodox Jewish settlement this week and gunned down the passengers as they fled. Eight people were killed and dozens injured. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an offshoot of Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement, claimed responsibility. It was the first deadly attack on Israelis since the army reoccupied most of the West Bank nearly a month ago, and it came as peace negotiations were opening in New York. The Israeli government said the attack was proof that Arafat knows only terrorism. “Anytime that the Palestinians see that there is some chance for progress in the peace process, this is what they do,” said government spokesman Arye Mekel.