Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon vowed an open-ended offensive against Palestinian militants and Israeli aircraft struck the Gaza Strip yesterday after a suicide bomber killed five Israelis.
The bombing on Wednesday in the coastal city of Hadera dealt a serious blow to an eight-month-old truce and international hopes for a revival of peacemaking after Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip last month.
Sharon said there could be no advance towards peace for now because of the "absolute failure of the Palestinian Authority in the fight against terrorism" as he promised to launch a major military operation.
PHOTO: AP
"Our action will be broad and will not stop until it brings about a cessation of terrorism," Sharon said ahead of a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Tel Aviv.
Sharon had agreed to an offensive in the northern West Bank against Islamic Jihad, which has claimed responsibility for the bombing to avenge the killing of a top commander on Monday, security sources said.
No timetable was given for the West Bank offensive amid the worst flare-up of violence since Israel left Gaza last month after 38 years of occupation. Israeli aircraft launched six missile strikes on the Gaza Strip, saying they were to stop rocket fire from the territory. There were no casualties.
Troops arrested the 20-year-old bomber's father in the northern West Bank yesterday. Another nine suspected Islamic militants were held.
The suicide bomber blew himself up in front of a sandwich stand in the main outdoor market in Hadera, a frequent target of attacks in a five-year-old Palestinian uprising. Five people were killed and more than 30 wounded.
The attack was the first bombing in the Jewish state since Aug. 28, when a suicide bomber wounded 20 people in Beersheba.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the bombing and pledged to try to salvage the truce he agreed to earlier this year.
"It harms the interest of the Palestinian people and leads to further expansion of the cycle of violence," he said.
Israeli officials noted the attack followed remarks in Tehran by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that Israel should be "wiped off the map".
In response, Israel intensified its demands for Tehran to be expelled from the UN amid an international outcry over Ahmadinejad's remarks.
The international community expressed outrage at his inflammatory speech which Israeli officials hope will galvanize efforts to penalize Tehran for alleged nuclear activities.
"It's the first time since the creation of the UN that one of its members has openly called for the destruction of another," said Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres calling for the UN to throw out Iran.
Islamic Jihad, sworn to Israel's destruction, had vowed revenge after Israeli troops shot dead West Bank commander Loai Assadi, the most senior militant killed since the truce began.
Leaders from Islamic Jihad and several other militant groups in Gaza rejoiced at news of the bombing and vowed to continue responding to Israeli attacks against Palestinians despite the ceasefire.
Asked about Abbas's condemnation of the bombing, an Islamic Jihad spokesman said: "Anyone who criticizes the resistance is a violator of the national consensus and stands beside the enemy."
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