Suicide bomber kills five at Israeli mall
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-06 09:23

When he put his left hand in the bag, Attia screamed "Terrorist! Terrorist! Take his hand out of the bag," she told Israeli media from her hospital bed. "Then people started running, crossing the street, running in every direction."

A security guard pushed the bomber away from the crowd waiting to get in, she said.

"I was looking (the bomber) in the eye and he pressed (the button) and blew up. I flew, and all I remember is that I was looking in his eye, I saw his gaze," she said.

The huge explosion, also caught on security cameras, sent smoke billowing into the sky and debris flying and clattering to the ground.

In response, the Defense Ministry decided to resume killing Islamic Jihad leaders in the West Bank and to continue an arrest sweep in the West Bank, security officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the details.

"We decided on a series of steps," Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told Army Radio, refusing to give details.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the bombing showed the need for the Palestinians "to fight terrorists and begin to deal with the terrorist organizations in their midst."

"We're working with both parties to try to keep matters on track," she told reporters on her way to Germany.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Adam Ereli demanded that Syria shut down Islamic Jihad's offices in Damascus.

Sharon and top security officials decided later Monday that Israel would cancel the VIP cards issued to senior Palestinian officials — severely restricting their travel — and cease talks on the opening of a passage for Palestinians between the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel Radio reported. Sharon could be pressured to mount a tough response ahead of the election. Sharon left his hard-line Likud Party to form a new centrist party, saying it would give him more freedom to seek a peace deal with the Palestinians.

The Palestinians have parliamentary elections Jan. 25, and violence could harm Abbas' Fatah party, laying bare its ineffectiveness in its race against the Islamic Hamas group.

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said the bombing is "more proof of the ineffectiveness of the Palestinian Authority.

"Israel will act against the terror organizations with all its might and all the means at its disposal. Israel's response will be hard and painful," said Shalom, who is running for the Likud leadership.

Abbas condemned the attack and promised an especially harsh response by his security forces.

"This operation ... against civilians causes the most serious harm to our commitment to the peace process," said a statement issued by Abbas' office.

Islamic Jihad identified the attacker as Lotfi Abu Saada from Illar, a village north of the West Bank town of Tulkarem. A video released by the group showed the bomber posing with a grenade launcher and assault rifles.

Relatives described Abu Saada, 23, as a primary-school dropout who was illiterate and exploited by his handlers. "My son is a poor soul. He doesn't know anything about this," said his mother, Amina.

Israel said Islamic Jihad's continued attacks make it a legitimate target. Israeli troops killed Luay Saadi, a West Bank leader of the group, on Oct. 24, and arrested another leader, Iyad Abu Rob, last month after a daylong siege in the town of Jenin.

During five years of fighting, Netanya, a coastal city 20 miles north of Tel Aviv, has been a frequent target of attacks due to its proximity to the West Bank.

Monday's attack was the first suicide bombing in Israel since Oct. 26, when a 20-year-old Palestinian blew himself up in the town of Hadera, killing seven Israelis.