Suicide Bombing Called 'Gift' To Iraq

A Palestinian suicide bomber wounded 30 people outside a packed cafe in northern Israel on Sunday, an attack a militant group called "Palestine's gift to the heroic people of Iraq." The blast raised Israeli fears of more bombings as the war in Iraq intensifies.

The Islamic Jihad group claimed responsibility for the bombing, describing it as a gift to the Iraqi people, reports CBS News Correspondent Robert Berger.

Israeli officials said that since the start of the U.S.-led offensive against Iraq 10 days ago, they have been on high alert for new bombings by Palestinian militants presumably eager to express support for Iraq.

"The motivation to harm Israel and to help the Iraqi struggle is well known to us and it comes across in all the intelligence reports,'' said the internal security minister, Tzachi Hanegbi.

An Islamic Jihad spokesman said the group has also sent suicide bombers to Baghdad. Their mission -- to blow themselves up among U.S. and British forces.

Islamic Jihad identified the bomber as Rami Ghanem, 20, from a West Bank village of Nablus — just across the porous line with Israel. The bombing affirmed "the unity of battle from Palestine to Baghdad in confronting the American-Zionist invasion, which targets the entire Arab and Islamic nation," the group said in a statement.

The bomber set off explosives studded with nails shortly before 1 p.m. near Cafe London, a popular outdoor restaurant along Netanya's crowded pedestrian mall. A security guard kept the bomber from entering the cafe, and the man instead blew himself up near a group of soldiers standing outside, police and witnesses said.

"There was a huge explosion," said a worker at a nearby fish restaurant, who would only give his first name, Herzl. "I saw two soldiers thrown to the ground and the terrorist ripped to pieces at the entrance."

The attacker died and at least six of the wounded were in serious condition, hospital officials said.

Outside the cafe, chairs and tables were overturned, and the sidewalk was littered with torn clothing, broken plates and bits of flesh.

Israel's police minister, Tsahi Hanegbi, suggested the attack may have been linked to Iraq. "The (Palestinian) motivation to harm Israel and to help the Iraqi struggle is well known to us and it comes across in all the intelligence reports," said Israel's police minister, Tsahi Hanegbi.

The Islamic Jihad's support for Iraq appeared to be a departure from pledges not to get involved in other conflicts.

Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a spokesman for Hamas, a sister group of Islamic Jihad, did not mention Iraq, saying such bombings would continue until Israel withdraws from Palestinian lands. In the past 30 months of fighting, Hamas and Islamic Jihad have carried out scores of bombings, killing hundreds of Israelis.

Sunday's blast was the first suicide bombing since March 5, when 17 Israelis were killed in a bus blast in the northern port city of Haifa.

Sunday also marked Land Day, an annual day of marches and protests by Israel's Arab citizens against land confiscations.

Netanya, in northern Israel, has been a frequent target, in part because of its proximity to the West Bank. A Hamas bomber attacked a hotel in Netanya during the Passover Holiday a year ago, killing 29 people participating in a holiday meal.

David Baker, an official in Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office, said the bombing was a "brutal reminder of the cruelty of Palestinian terrorism."

Saeb Erekat, a Palestinian Cabinet minister, said the Palestinian leadership "condemns targeting civilians, whether Palestinian or Israeli." He urged the international community to step up efforts to revive Mideast peace talks.

Sunday's bombing also underscored the difficulties facing Mahmoud Abbas, the new Palestinian prime minister. Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, has the support of international Mideast mediators who want him to rein in Palestinian militants.

Hamas, which opposes peace talks with Israel, had earlier criticized Abbas' appointment and said the militant Islamic group would not take part in his government.

Abbas was meeting with Palestinian factions in Gaza Sunday.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have taken to the streets in recent days to show support for Iraq and call on Saddam's forces to fire Scud missiles at Israel, hit by 39 Iraqi rockets in the 1991 Gulf War.

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had increased cash handouts to the families of Palestinians, including suicide bombers who die in fighting with Israel.

In other violence, Israeli soldiers killed two armed Palestinians who infiltrated from northern Gaza and headed toward a village, the military said. A local army commander said they were armed with rifles and grenades. Palestinians said Israeli tanks and bulldozers crossed into the same part of Gaza.

Earlier, an army patrol in Gaza shot and killed a Palestinian who was in an off-limits area.