Israel Holds Hamas-Led Gov't Responsible

JERUSALEM - Israel said Tuesday that it holds the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority responsible for the deadliest suicide bombing in nearly two years and debated whether to target it directly as an "enemy entity" — even though the attack was carried out by a different militant group.

Monday's blast outside a packed Tel Aviv fast-food restaurant killed nine civilians and wounded dozens during the Jewish Passover holiday, and troop reinforcements were deployed across Israel for fear of more attacks. The 21-year-old bomber, a West Bank university dropout, was sent by the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad group.

Israel's U.N. ambassador, Dan Gillerman, warned that the Hamas government's verbal support for the bombing, as well as recent statements by Iran and Syria, "are clear declarations of war, and I urge each and every one of you to listen carefully and take them at face value." Gillerman said a new "axis of terror" — Iran, Syria and the Hamas government — was sowing the seeds of the first world war of the 21st century.

Israeli Prime Minister-designate Ehud Olmert convened key Cabinet ministers and security chiefs Tuesday to discuss a response. One proposal was to hold the Hamas government directly responsible and declare it an "enemy entity," according to an Israeli official close to the consultations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the ministers had not yet made their decision.

Such a declaration could pave the way for direct strikes against the Palestinian Authority and its officials. Until now, an economic and political boycott had been Israel's main tools against the Hamas government.

"Israel sees the Palestinian Authority as responsible for what happened yesterday," said Gideon Meir, a senior Israeli Foreign Ministry official.

Israeli security chiefs also proposed tightening travel restrictions, including making it harder for Palestinians to move within the West Bank and extending a blanket closure of the West Bank and Gaza. The bomber came from the northern West Bank, and the military planned to step up raids in that area. The army also proposed intensifying targeted killings of Islamic Jihad activists.

In an initial response, Israeli aircraft attacked an empty workshop in Gaza City early Tuesday, causing no injuries. The army said the workshop was used by the Popular Resistance Committees militant group to make rockets for using against Israel.

Hamas officials have defended the blast as a justified response to Israeli military strikes against the Palestinians. Hamas, which has carried out scores of suicide bombings in Israel since the early 1990s, has largely observed a truce since last year, but refuses to renounce violence and recognize Israel. Hamas officials also have said they would not try to stop or arrest members of other militant groups trying to carry out attacks.

Atef Adwan, a Hamas Cabinet minister, on Tuesday dismissed Israel's claim that the Palestinian Authority is ultimately responsible for the attack. "Israel is trying to find a pretext to act against the Palestinian institutions and act against the Palestinian people," he said.

A confrontation between Israel and Hamas could endanger Hamas' efforts to secure desperately needed international aid and acceptance. Hamas is broke and has been unable to cover the large public payroll, despite aid pledges of $50 million each by Iran and Qatar in recent days.

"Defense or sponsorship of terrorist acts by officials of the Palestinian Cabinet will have the gravest effects on relations between the Palestinian Authority and all states seeking peace in the Middle East," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said.

Moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the bombing and said it harmed the Palestinians' national interest. However, the Palestinian U.N. observer, Riyad Mansour, who is close to Abbas, noted that Israeli military strikes in Gaza earlier this month also killed 19 Palestinians, including two children.

The bomber struck during Monday's lunch hour at "The Mayor's Felafel" in a busy neighborhood near Tel Aviv's central bus station. The restaurant, which had been the target of a January bombing, was packed with Israelis on vacation during the weeklong Passover holiday.

A guard outside was checking the bomber's bag when the bomb exploded, police and witnesses said.

"Suddenly there was a boom. The whole restaurant flew in the air," said Azi Otmazgo, 35, who was inside and was wounded on his hands, foot and head.

The bomb, laced with nails and other projectiles, shattered car windshields, smashed windows of nearby buildings and blew away the restaurant's sign. Glass shards and blood splattered the ground. Police said the guard was torn in half by the blast.

Six Israelis and two Romanian workers were among those killed. One woman was killed while standing near her husband and children who were wounded, witnesses said.

In Gaza, Islamic Jihad militants handed out pastries on the streets in celebration.

The attack was the deadliest since 16 people were killed in a double suicide bombing on two buses in the southern city of Beersheba on Aug. 31, 2004. It was the second major Passover bombing in four years. A 2002 attack at a hotel in the coastal town of Netanya killed 29 people and unleashed a major Israeli military offensive.

Islamic Jihad identified Monday's bomber as Samer Hammad from a village outside the northern West Bank town of Jenin. In a video released by the group, Hammad said the bombing was dedicated to the thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. "There are many other bombers on the way," he said.

Palestinians are seen as they attend the speech of the Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, of the Islamic group Hamas, not seen, during a demonstration at the Jebaliya refugee camp next to Gaza City Friday April 14, 2006. Haniyeh said Friday that the suspension of Western aid to the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority would not bring down his Hamas-led government nor cow the Palestinian people. Thousands of Palestinians joined Hamas-organized rallies in Palestinian towns throughout the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on Friday to show their support for the government. The placards reading: 'save us, Arabs' , 'save us, Muslims' (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

And the award for "Statement Most Detached From Reality" goes to Atef Adwan, a Hamas Cabinet minister who said:

"Israel is trying to find a pretext to act against the Palestinian institutions and act against the Palestinian people," he said.

By saying "pretext" he makes it read as if the suicide bombing did not actually take place, the people were not killed or injured at a restaurant during passover etc...

Congratulations on your award, Atif. It will be presented by the IDF, in the form of a very large BOOOOOM when you open your car door one day.

It did not do one bit of good for Israel to give land to the Palestinians, so when will they learn?

The whole world plays the guilt card on the Israelis, even we do. They should just ignore everything anyone tells them and worry about themselves.

Everyone is so damn concerned with maintianing the status quo.

I have to ask: WHAT IS SO GREAT ABOUT THE STATUS QUO?

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and I have to ask, what have the Paly's done to deserve any sympathy or Aid? They are terrorists!

When do the Israeli people and Olmert get pissed off enough to begin the process of destroying the PA and taking over the entire territory? NOW! To hell with the "world community".

And the award for "Statement Most Detached From Reality" goes to Atef Adwan, a Hamas Cabinet minister who said: "Israel is trying to find a pretext to act against the Palestinian institutions and act against the Palestinian people," he said.

Definitely. The second place should go to another Hamas-moron, who said that the suicide-bombing was an act of self-defense. These people really are detached from reality.

9 posted on 04/18/2006 8:47:43 AM PDT by AntiGovernment (A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away.)

In Gaza, Islamic Jihad militants handed out pastries on the streets in celebration.

Animals. One F-16, a full load of Mk. 82 bombs, a certain building in Ramallah...

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