Jerusalem: Israel on August 20 stopped handover of West Bank towns and severed contact with Palestinians after a suicide bus bombing in Jerusalem killed at least 19 Israelis, including six children, dealing a severe blow to the faltering Middle East peace process.

A Palestinian suicide bomber, dressed as a hareidic or religious Jew, detonated powerful explosives in a packed bus passing through the religious neighbourhood of Mea Shearim in Jerusalem around 23:30 hours (IST) on August 19 that also left over 100 injured.

Passengers on another bus in front of the main bus in which the explosion took place, and on a car behind it, were among the wounded, media reports said.

The blast, just across a synagogue, was so powerful that it blew a hole in the bus roof and shattered the windows of a passing bus.

Police said the bomb had been packed with bits of metal for greater impact, adding, "This was the biggest bus explosion in the past three years."

The Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad both claimed responsibility for the attack, a setback to the US-backed "roadmap" peace plan unveiled three months ago.

Israel froze all contacts with the Palestinian Authority and cancelled the planned handover of two West Bank towns - Jericho and Qalqilyah - to Palestinian control. The Israeli Army also closed border crossings to seal off the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The foreign ministry said that Israel would re-impose a total military closure of West Banks, allowing no one in or out.

PTI