Profile of Suicide Bombings

From 1993 through mid-August 2003, 303 suicide bombers had attacked Israel. Nearly 80 percent of the attacks came after September 2000. A total of 55 percent of the bombings were "successful" in killing themselves and others. The success rate actual went down after September 2000, from 70 percent to 51%.

Most bombers since 2000 were single (87 percent) and young (76 percent ages 17-23). They were also relatively well-educated, with 38 percent having university educations and 47 percent a high school education. By comparison, only 5.3 percent of the Palestinian poulation aged 19 and above was enrolled in vocational education, community colleges or universities in 2000.

The majority of attacks were carried out by the radical Islamic terrorist groups, Hamas (89 attacks) and Islamic Jihad (59), followed by Fatah (58) and the PFLP (8).