Bombing Shatters Calm In Israel

Suicide Blast Kills 5 Israelis; Islamic Jihad Claims Responsibility

(CBS/AP)  Islamic Jihad has been trying to distinguish itself from Hamas, its main political rival, which since the cease-fire agreement has refrained from carrying out suicide attacks in Israel. Leading Islamic Jihad members said privately their group keeps carrying out attacks because it wants to sharpen its image as less willing to compromise than the pragmatic Hamas which is increasingly transforming itself into a political party.

Islamic Jihad, which is boycotting the balloting, has no such restraints. The group has also received money from Iran, funneled to its cells in the West Bank by Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.

Wednesday's blast came hours after an Israeli aircraft fired a missile into a field in northern Gaza in response to Palestinian rocket fire on an Israeli border town. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for firing some of the rockets, saying it was avenging Saadi's killing.

Abbas, in a speech before parliament, lashed out at the militants, saying they had no right to violate the cease-fire selectively. "No one has the right to respond here and there, unilaterally," he said.

Later, Abbas condemned the suicide attack, saying in a statement, "It harms Palestinian interests and could widen the cycle of violence, chaos, extremism and bloodshed."

"It is not permitted for anyone to take the law into their hands," he added.

Wednesday's suicide bomber was identified as a 20-year-old resident of the West Bank town of Qabatiyeh. His name, Hassan Abu Zeid, was announced over a bullhorn in Qabatiyeh, residents said. Israeli police said the man had been standing in line at the felafel stand before blowing himself up.

His parents were evacuating their home, fearing an Israeli response. His mother, Raqaiah, wailed, "Where are you, my dear son?" Relatives said he worked as a blacksmith with his father and disappeared after morning prayers on Wednesday.

The last suicide bombing in Israel, on Aug. 28 in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, killed only the bomber. Before that, a July 12 suicide blast at a shopping mall in the coastal town of Netanya killed five Israelis.

Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip last month has raised hopes for a return to Mideast peacemaking after five years of bloodshed. However, the sides have failed to capitalize on the pullout's momentum, and Wednesday's bombing appeared to hurt prospects for a return to talks.

Israeli officials pointed the finger at Abbas' government for failing to control extremists. "The Palestinian Authority talks but doesn't do anything," Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra told Israel Radio.