JERUSALEM, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- The Palestinian Authority said Tuesday it severed ties with two terrorist groups following the deaths of 18 people in the suicide bombing of a Jerusalem bus.
Islamic Jihad and Hamas claimed responsibility for the blast, which injured more than 100 people.
Although Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas denounced the bombing, Dan Gillerman, Israel's ambassador to the United States, told CNN Israel has suspended peace talks with Abbas.
Gillerman said his government is not impressed with the PA's severing its ties with the terrorist groups: "It's not about cutting ties with them, it's about arresting them ... collecting arms. It's not a question of capability, it's a question of willingness."
He added, "Condemning, investigating, cutting off ties does not do it."
An army spokesman said Israel also suspended the planned Wednesday transfer of the West Bank towns of Qalqilya and Jericho and also canceled scheduled peace talks between Israeli and PA officials.
