One theory being explored is that the bombs and timing devices were prepared by West Bank Palestinians, who set them to go off shortly after 6 p.m., Palestinian time. But those responsible for planting the bombs are believed to have been residents of a village inside Israel, for whom 6 p.m. was an hour later. The theory is that the three Arab terrorists thought they had time to park the cars and get away safely before the bombs inside went off. They failed to take into account the time change. The Haifa bomb exploded in a parking lot just after 5 p.m., killing the suspected bomber.
Israeli police believe the terrorist intended to plant the bomb in the bus station.
The Tiberius bomb exploded around the same time and killed the two terrorists inside the car. Israel has been resetting its clocks earlier than the rest of the world for decades in deference to religious Jews who must say penitential prayers before sunrise in the weeks leading up to Yom Kippur, the day of atonement which this year falls on Sept. 20.