WASHINGTON (AFP) — US President George W. Bush led a global chorus of outrage at what he called a "barbaric and vicious attack" on a Jerusalem school Thursday, as foes of the Middle East peace process rejoiced.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the European Union and individual member states, Canada and Japan were among those condemning the massacre by a Palestinian gunman, while Bush assured Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of full US support.
But an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council failed to agree on a condemnation of the attack, as Israel and Libya traded insults and accused each other of terrorism.
Eight teenage students at the Merkaz Harav Yeshiva in predominantly Jewish west Jerusalem were killed late Thursday and another nine wounded when a Palestinian from east Jerusalem entered the building and started firing, before he was shot dead by police said.
Ban expressed alarm at the prospect for "continued acts of violence and terrorism to undermine the political process, which he believes must be pursued to achieve a secure and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians, based on a two-state solution".
"This barbaric and vicious attack on innocent civilians deserves the condemnation of every nation," Bush said in a statement.
"I have just spoken with Prime Minister Olmert to extend my deepest condolences to the victims, their families, and to the people of Israel. I told him the United States stands firmly with Israel in the face of this terrible attack."
The EU's current president, Slovenia, said, "These vicious acts of horror are totally unacceptable and there can be no justification for them."
"This terrorist act must not derail the peace process ... and endanger the efforts for achieving lasting peace and security in the region."
"I condemn in the strongest terms this ruthless terrorist attack on Israeli youth," EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said.
"Killing innocent citizens whether they are Israeli or Palestinian is not serving any purpose."
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana telephoned Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni "to condemn the attack" and offer his condolences to the victims' families and Israeli leaders, Solana's spokeswoman told AFP.
Developments in the Middle East, and particularly the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, controlled by the extremist Islamic Hamas movement, will be discussed in Brussels by EU foreign ministers on Monday.
The attack came after more than a week of flaring Israeli-Palestinian violence in and around the Gaza Strip, where more than 130 Palestinians have been killed in eight days in Israeli attacks aimed at stopping rocket attacks on Israel by Palestinian radicals.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "This is clearly an attempt to strike a blow at the very heart of the peace process."
He added: "I think it's very important to emphasise that those people who want to stop the peace process should be stopped from doing so by the combined determination of the whole world."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel was "devastated" by the attack and condemned it "in the strongest terms," a government spokesman said. She had phoned Olmert to ask that he convey her condolences to the families of the victims.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy condemned what he called a "cowardly and barbarous" act, his spokesman said.
He would insist on the importance of continuing Israeli-Palestinian peace talks when he meets Israeli President Shimon Peres in Paris next Monday, the spokesman added.
Greece "expresses its indignation and categorically condemns the terrorist attack on a religious school in Jerusalem," a spokesman for Foreign Minister George Koumoutsakos said.
"While being aware of the difficulties for both sides, we encourage the continuation of their efforts for peace and a better future for the region," he added.
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi also condemned the "cowardly" attack, while appealing to Olmert to continue efforts for peace with the Palestinians, which he called "the most effective response to those who oppose dialogue."
"Canada calls on all Palestinian leaders to reject such atrocious terrorist tactics, which are contrary to the peace process," Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier said.
"Japan strongly condemns the terrorist shooting attack in Jerusalem," Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said.
"It is extremely regrettable that such an incident occurred at a time when both parties are making efforts for peace building," he said.
"They need to prevent a potential chain reaction of violence caused by this incident. Japan calls strongly on all sides concerned to show restraint."
At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, Libya, its lone Arab member, demanded that Israeli also be condemned for "killing innocent civilians, including children" in Gaza, leading to the stalemate, sources said.
"This heroic attack in Jerusalem is a normal response to the crimes of the occupier and its murder of civilians," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said.
Another spokesman, Taher al-Nunu, blamed the attack on the Israeli government, including Olmert and Defence Minister Ehud Barak.
"We have warned before about the responsibility of the escalation in Gaza and warned of Palestinian anger," he said.
Hundreds of Palestinians poured into the streets of Gaza City as news of the attack spread, firing automatic rifles into the air in celebration.
Several hundred more celebrated in the northern town of Jabaliya, which has borne the brunt of deadly Israeli military strikes over the past eight days.
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