MIDDLE EAST: Israel yesterday blamed Syria for Friday night's suicide bombing in Tel Aviv and warned that it could retaliate with air raids.
After much confusion as to who was responsible for the nightclub bombing which killed four people, Islamic Jihad, which has an office in Damascus, claimed responsibility.
Speaking before a cabinet meeting, Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon said: "The terrorist attack was perpetrated by members of Islamic Jihad . . . the immediate test for the PA [Palestinian Authority] will be in vigorous action against Islamic Jihad members". It was the first suicide bombing since November 1st and the first breach of a ceasefire agreement brokered three weeks ago.
"There will be no progress politically, and I repeat, no political progress, until the Palestinians carry out a determined campaign to destroy the terrorist groups and their infrastructure," Mr Sharon said, warning that if this is not done, "Israel will have to increase its military activities that are meant to protect the citizens of Israel."
Islamic Jihad claimed it was retaliating against the arrests of dozens of Palestinians and the killing of three by Israel.
A video featuring the suicide bomber said the bombing was also directed at the Palestinian Authority which it accused of acting for American interests.
Zeev Boim, Israel's deputy defence minister, said Israel could repeat its 2003 attack on Syria in response to a suicide bombing. "Operations by us against Syria are certainly possible. We have done it the past. If [ Syrian President Bashar] Assad needs another message from us, then he will certainly get it."
Initially blame for the attack was pinned on Hizbullah, the Lebanese militia which is supported by Iran and Syria, but Israeli officials said that on this occasion the group was not responsible.
Syria denied any involvement and said it supported the attempts of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to negotiate with Israel. An official condemned the attack, saying it gave Israel the pretext to "bash the peace process."
The four victims of the bombing - among a group of friends attending a surprise birthday party at the Tel Aviv karaoke club - were buried yesterday.
Palestinian officials reacted angrily to the attack which they saw as weakening their efforts to regain the political initiative.
Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qureia announced that he would not be travelling to London for the meeting to support the Palestinian Authority. He said he would remain in Ramallah to co-ordinate the authority's response to the attack and cancelled a meeting in Cairo with representatives of the Palestinian militant groups.
The attack will put pressure on Mr Abbas to take stronger action against militant groups, even though Israel still maintains control of the West Bank and has not handed over security control to the PA in Jericho or Tulkarem despite weeks of negotiations.
It is believed Israel will not take any direct action in response to the attack but will use it as leverage to force Mr Abbas to crack down on the "infrastructure of terror". But Israel may reconsider whether to go ahead with the scheduled release of 400 Palestinian prisoners, justice minister Tsipi Livni said on Israel Radio last night.