Unsure bomber fails with Jerusalem blast

A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up outside a hotel in Jerusalem last week (5 December).

The bomber reportedly set off his explosives while dithering over whether to target Israeli government ministers inside the 385-bedroom David Citadel hotel or board a local bus. His indecision saved lives.

General manager Norman Rafelson played down the event. "After the initial surprise, everyone went about their business," he said. "It's like if a car crash happened outside. We were really just bystanders."

Eleven people sustained minor wounds from flying glass as the blast blew out the hotel's facade and numerous car windows.

Rafelson said that the hotel employed four security staff around the clock. "Even when coming into the parking lot, we take licence numbers, we take IDs," he said. "Bags are searched and bodies are searched with an electronic wand. Apart from strip-searching people, I really can't do more."

The hotel now has just 22% occupancy, mainly because 65% of the hotel's guests come from overseas and the increasing violence in the city has caused a huge fall in visitor numbers.

"Everything is reduced," Rafelson said. "Whereas two years ago we would have had international Jewish foundations occupying 100 rooms, now they only take about 20."

The hotel has played host to a series of high-profile visitors to Jerusalem including Bill Clinton and US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Rudolph Giuliani, the outgoing New York mayor, and his successor, Michael Bloomberg, were guests at the hotel earlier this week.

by Ben Walker