Witnesses said that the bomber, wearing a heavy blue coat over the explosivedevice that was strapped to his waist, tried to enter the mall, but when hewas blocked by one of the security guards at the entrance, he blew himselfup. At the time, there was a line of people waiting to enter the mall.

Regional police commander of the Sharon area, Major General Aharon Franko,confirmed that the police had received a report about the movements of theterrorist shortly before the explosion took place. The police sent a patrolcar to the site, but it did not reach the scene in time.

Witnesses said the police had only reached the site of the blast 5 minutesafter the explosion took place, despite the fact that there is a policestation just 50 meters from the mall.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has called an emergency meeting with ForeignMinister Shimon Peres and Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer to discussthe security situation. This has raised speculation that Israel could decideto retaliate against Palestinian security installations, as it has afterprevious attacks on Israeli targets.

A senior Palestinian security official said the bomber was 21-year-oldMahmoud Ahmed Marmash, a member of the militant Islamic group Hamas from theWest Bank town of Tulkarm -- just 16 km (10 miles) to the east in the WestBank.

Hamas claimed responsibility at a rally in Gaza and founder Sheikh AhmedYassin said Israel was "reaping the violence it has planted."

The wounded were evacuated to Netanya's Laniado Hospital, to the HillelYaffeh Medical Center in the neighboring town of Hadera and to Meir Hospitalin Kfar Sava.

Police sealed the area and immediately began a search to ensure there wereno further explosive devices in the area. There have been 15 bomb attacks orattempted attacks in the Sharon area - Israel's central coastal region -since the beginning of the year. Most of the bombs were safely detonated bypolice sappers.

In Gaza, the Palestinian Authority condemned the bombing and called on theIsraeli government to show restraint.

"The Palestinian National Authority condemns operations aimed at civiliansand innocent people, be it Palestinians or Israelis," Tayeb Abdel-Rahim, anadviser to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, said in a statement.

"Stopping this deterioration (of the situation) requires wisdom and does notneed an angry response and more shellings and killings," he added.

Opposition head Yossi Sarid (Meretz) said in response to the bombing "Evenin the hardest times every person must look inside himself to find asolution how to change this situation. Alone we cannot prevent these attacksand they (the Palestinians) alone cannot prevent them."

Minister of National Infrastructure, Avigdor Lieberman said "This is thePalestinian answer to the peace initiative. Those who speak about freezingthe settlements in 'Judea, Samaria and Gaza', only encourage the terror andthose responsible for it."

Palestinian Cabinet Member, Saeb Erekat, reacted to the bombing saying "Whatdo the Israelis expect? Given the actions of the Sharon government againstthe Palestinian people. The daily killings, the assassinations, militarysanctions, destruction and economic sanctions all lighting a fire under thepot until it boils over."

Labor faction head Effi Oshaya laid the responsibility for the attack onPalestinian Chairman Yasser Arafat saying " Yasser Arafat should be viewedas a terrorist and not as a head of state. Arafat chose the strategy ofterror and as terrorists they will receive what they deserve. Arafat's handsare stained, and are not worthy to shake the hands of any of our leaders atthis moment."

Ha'aretz Service and Agencies

Mid-East Realities

www.middleeast.org

Source: http://www.middleeast.org/articles/2001/5/208.htm