Jerusalem, June 13: The Palestinian militant group Hamas has vowed to carry out further attacks inside Israel following a bus bombing in Jerusalem on Thursday and warned all foreigners to leave the Jewish state for their own safety.
However, despite the warning, many tourists have said they will stay in Israel.

"It's not the first time they've said something like this, is it? I don't feel any more threatened. I come from England. We have trouble with the IRA. It's the same kind of thing. Terrorists are everywhere, aren't they?" said Kevin Smith, a tourist. The last three days have seen a series of brutal attacks and counter attacks between the Hamas and Israeli troops killing at least twenty people.

Yesterday, the Israeli military said they would wipe out the Palestinian group and now the Hamas has vowed to strike back.

"This message must be sent for every Israeli - everybody is a target now. We have to react and if you (Israel) are willing to stop this activity you should ask (Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon to stop this crime and to withdraw from our land," said Hamas Spokesperson Mahmoud Al-Zahar.

In ongoing diplomatic efforts, in a letter to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has appealed for help asking him to intervene and put an end to the violence in the Middle East that has turned the region into a "bloodbath". Bureau Report