Suicide Bomber Kills Eight In Tel Aviv

Financial Times

By Sharmila Devi in Jerusalem

April 17 2006

A Palestinian suicide bomber killed eight people and wounded 60 others in Tel Aviv on Monday in an attack claimed by the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad. The Palestinian Authority’s Hamas-led government called it a legitimate response to Israeli “aggression”.

The attack came during a high state of alert for the Jewish holiday of Passover and targeted a falafel restaurant, which was previously hit by a bombing in January.

Islamic Jihad has also claimed responsibility for six previous suicide bombings inside Israel since a ceasefire was declared more than a year ago. Hamas has largely abided by the ceasefire but justified Monday’s attack.

“The Israeli occupation bears responsibility for the continuation of its aggression,” said Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman. “Our people are in a state of self-defence and they have every right to use all means to defend themselves.”

Israel has killed at least 18 Palestinians in the past two weeks in response to rocket fire aimed at Israel from the Gaza Strip, which have not caused any serious injury. In weekend press interviews, Israeli military leaders threatened to re-invade Gaza, saying the situation constituted a state of “war”.

Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority president, from the Fatah party, condemned Monday’s bombing and urged peace mediators – the US, European Union, United Nations and Russia – to intervene to prevent further violence. “This operation does not go in line with the Palestinian national consensus and the . . . interests of the Palestinian people,” he said. The US also condemned the attack. “It is a despicable act of terror for which there is no excuse or justification,” the White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

Ehud Olmert, Israel’s prime minister-designate, who is in the process of forming a coalition government after elections last month, said the Hamas-led Authority bore responsibility for the attack.

“We will know how to respond in the way and manner required and we will continue to act with all means at our disposal.”

On Sunday, six Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups appealed to the Israeli high court for the cancellation of a new regulation allowing the Israeli military to fire shells up to 100 metres from Palestinian homes. The safety range was cut from 300 metres last week and military officers admitted Palestinian civilian lives could be put at risk.

Qatar said on Monday it would give $50m (£28m, €40m) in aid to the PA.