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Occupied Jerusalem: US presidential contender Barack Obama has condemned an attack in Occupied Jerusalem by a Palestinian on Tuesday.
Israeli police say a Palestinian driver of a bulldozer rammed into cars and a city bus in downtown Occupied Jerusalem, wounding at least 16 people before he was shot dead.
Obama arrived in Jordan on Tuesday before heading to Israel where he was due to stay at Occupied Jerusalem's King David Hotel, a couple of blocks from the scene of the attack.
"Today's bulldozer attack is a reminder of what Israelis have courageously lived with on a daily basis for far too long," Obama told a news conference in Amman. "I strongly condemn this attack and will always support Israel in confronting terrorism and pursuing lasting peace and security."
Obama, who was to fly to Israel later in the day, said his "thoughts and prayers go out to all who were injured, and to their families".
Israeli officials said the driver was a Palestinian from a village in an area of the occupied West Bank that Israel considers part of Occupied Jerusalem. Israeli police are calling it a "terror attack".
"The bulldozer driver left a construction site, and hit two cars," a police spokesman said. "A civilian who saw what was happening, shot him. The bulldozer continued on its way. A border police patrol...continued to shoot and the terrorist was killed."
Hamas Islamists in the Gaza Strip hailed the attack as "a natural reaction to the crimes of the (Israeli) occupation."
The incident occurred as Israeli President Shimon Peres hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at his official residence less than a kilometre away.
This was the first visit by the Palestinian president to Israel's official presidential residence.
"I am full of confidence the problems will be resolved," Peres said after a red-carpet greeting for Abbas, who is engaged in statehood negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that have shown little sign of progress.
"I feel both sides believe there is no alternative to peace," Peres said.
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