UPDATED: THE LADIES OF PALESTINE

Fatah suicide bomber kills two at French Hill intersection
Zainab Ali Issa, a Palestinian suicide bomber, blew herself up near a Jerusalem bus station Wednesday afternoon, killing two Israelis and wounding at least 19 others, including four seriously, police and rescue officials said. One person was killed at the scene, and a nine-year-old boy died on the way to hospital. Thirteen others are listed in light-to-moderate condition.

The explosion occurred at 3:40 p.m. at the city's northern French Hill intersection, which has been the scene of repeated bombings over four years of violence.

A 9-year-old boy, critically wounded in the attack, passed away en route to the hospital. Efforts to resuscitate him failed, head of the Hadassah University Hospital at Mount Scopus Professor Shmuel Hyman said.

According to police reports, the bomber's intention had been to explode at the bus stop where a crowd of 20 to 30 people were standing, and it was the presence of Border Police guards prevented a potentially much more lethal attack. ...

Since the outbreak of violence four years ago, the bomber was the eighth female who has managed to carry out a suicide bombing attack in Israel. The previous seven were all recruited and dispatched by Fatah.

SEE ALSO: Shin Bet: Terrorists Recruiting More Women, Minors
According to Shin Bet officials, terrorist organizations continue to perceive that women are less susceptible to checks by security forces and are therefore more likely to enter Israel without raising suspicions. Over the past four years, 40 female terrorists were recruited to carry out suicide bomb attacks. Seven blew up, and security forces arrested 33. In some instances, they posed as pregnant women, stuffing a pillow underneath their garments. So far this year 109 Palestinian minors were arrested for involvement in terrorist activities compared to a total of 102 in 2003, 54 in 2002, and 27 in 2001. (Jerusalem Post)