Israel weighs response to bombing
Olmert faces first attack as acting prime minister, Mofaz to convene meeting with security officials. Restrained response expected; Israel wishes to avoid escalation in wake of Tel Aviv bombing that wounded 32 people Thursday afternoon
Despite the destruction at the scene of the attack, the fact no Israelis were killed may push the government to offer a restrained response in an attempt to avoid escalation.
Bomber blew up at food stand (Photo: Yaron Brenner)
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is dealing for the first time with a multi-casualty bomb attack and is not interested in torpedoing the upcoming Palestinian elections, while refraining from playing into the hand of Islamic Jihad.
Ynetnews covers Tel Aviv bombing:
MK Eldad: Fight Arabs, not settlers
Blast survivor: There is a God
Abbas: Attack aimed to derail PA elections
The security cabinet will apparently meet on Sunday following the government session in order to discuss Israel's response to Thursday's bombing. In the meantime, Olmert will hold a meeting with Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and consult with senior security officials.
At this time it appears that the relatively low casualty toll and the desire to avoid escalation would ensure Israel's response would be measured. At the same time, the Shin Bet and the IDF have been instructed to continue their operations against the Islamic Jihad in Nablus, responsible for the attack.
"Pressure on Islamic Jihad's organization in Nablus and northern Samaria must continue until it's destroyed," the Mofaz ordered the IDF.
According to Olmert's aides, the acting prime minister maintained his cool after being informed of the bombing and continued to receive briefings and analysis via telephone through his military secretary, Major General Gadi Shamni, Defense Minister Mofaz, the army chief, and the Shin Bet director.
During the conversations, top officials apparently decided to respond with restraint, despite orders to the security forces to prevent a series of terror attacks from being carried out by Islamic Jihad's cell in Nablus and the northern West Bank.
Helping the wounded (Photo: AP)
On Thursday evening, senior security officials will again meet with Defense Minister Mofaz.
Looking forward to PA elections
Meanwhile, the Palestinian elections scheduled January 25 are expected to go ahead as planned. Around 60,000 members of the Palestinian security forces will vote in the elections this coming Saturday, so that they will be available during Election Day and prevent anarchy.
Despite encouraging signs regarding preparations by Palestinian security forces to keep the peace on Election Day, Israeli security authorities are prepared for the possibility of an attack on the day of the elections in an attempt to influence them.
Earlier Thursday, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said the Tel Aviv terror bombing was carried out in order to undermine the upcoming PA elections.
Meanwhile, a senior political figure told Ynet Israel cannot count on the Palestinians when it comes to terror prevention.
"It's clear that we can't rely on Palestinian security forces to prevent terror attacks on the day of the elections," the official said.
"With that, we hope they will at least be able to maintain order on their end and hold their elections, on the way to disarming terror groups, starting with Hamas," he added.
"We have no intention of giving them cause to torpedo the elections or their commitments to disband armed factions, as they obligated themselves to do," the source said.
An Israeli security source warned, however, that Israel would continue to act with determination against ticking bombs, terror cells, and Qassam launchers. "This war goes on," source said.
Meanwhile, security authorities are preparing for the possibility of an escalation on the day of Palestinian elections in the form of Qassam rockets.
U.S. condemns attacks
The U.S. government is trying to ensure that the terror attack will not harm the PA elections. White House Spokesman Scott McClellan said, following the attack: "We condemn this atrocious attack in the strongest possible terms."
"It has wounded tens of innocent civilians. We call upon the Palestinian Authority again to do everything it can to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure," said the White House spokesman, adding that the disarming of terror groups was an important factor for furthering the peace process.
McClellan also said that the U.S. government supported the Palestinian elections.
Hanan Greenberg contributed to this report
