ISRAEL: A Palestinian suicide-bomber blew himself up in a crowded pedestrian mall in the northern coastal town of Netanya yesterday, wounding more than 30 people and killing himself, in what the militant Islamic Jihad group, which claimed the attack, called a "gift" to the Iraqi people.
Some sources in the group said Islamic Jihad members had even made it to Baghdad where they planned to carry out suicide strikes against US forces.
Police said the bomber set off a two-to-three kilo explosive device outside the Cafe London, an outdoor restaurant, after he was prevented from entering by a security guard. Deterred by the guard, the bomber blew himself up near a group of soldiers waiting for a table. Six of the wounded were said to be in a serious condition.
"There was a huge explosion," said a worker at a nearby restaurant. "I saw two soldiers thrown to the ground and the terrorist ripped to pieces at the entrance."
Israel has tightened security since the US-led assault began in Iraq, with officials warning of a possible attempt by Islamic militants to seize on events in the Gulf to launch attacks in Israel.
Palestinian leaders have, in turn, warned that Israel will exploit the war to implement even harsher measures in the Occupied Territories. Until now, Palestinian anger at the US-led invasion has been largely confined to street demonstrations.
The bomber was identified as Rami Muhammed Al Jameel Ranam (20), who lived near the West Bank city of Tul Karm. The Netanya attack was the first suicide bombing since a Palestinian blew himself up on a bus in the northern city of Haifa on March 5th, killing 17 Israelis.
An Islamic Jihad leader based in Beirut, Ramadan Abdullah Shalah, said the attack was "a gift to the heroic Iraqi people who have won over the world with their steadfastness in the face of this American aggression".
Israeli Minister of Public Security, Tzachi Hanegbi, said the Palestinian "motivation to harm Israel and to help the Iraqi struggle is well known to us and it comes across in all the intelligence reports".
Palestinian leaders condemned the bombing and some suggested it was a message to newly appointed Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mr Mahmoud Abbas that the militant organisations had no plans to end their attacks on Israel. The bombing came as Mr Abbas was in talks with various Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip in a bid to engineer a halt to suicide attacks.