MK Eldad slams Olmert
Photo: Gabi Menashe
MK Eldad: Fight Arabs instead of settlers
National Union MK slams Olmert, says he expects more attacks in near future
Knesset Member Arieh Eldad (National Union) slammed Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert following Thursday's Tel Aviv bombing, charging "Olmert prefers to fight settlers instead of Arabs."
Knesset Member Nissan Slomiansky (National Religious Party) also spoke angrily following the attack, saying: "Our blood is not worthless. The Israeli government must respond aggressively to the blood-thirsty terrorists who wish to threaten our security on a daily basis."
"It seems this is what we can expect in the near future," Eldad said, referring to the possibility of more attacks.
Terror Attack
Avi Cohen
(VIDEO) Terror in Tel Aviv: Suicide bomber detonates himself at food stand in southern Tel Aviv, near old central bus station; one person seriously wounded, other victims sustain light to moderate wounds. Police sappers scour area; Islamic Jihad’s al-Quds Brigades claims responsibility for attack
"Operations against Palestinian terror must be boosted, this is more urgent than clearing Jewish neighborhoods in Hebron, the city of our forefathers," he said.
Former National Security Advisor Uzi Dayan, who leads the new Tafnit (Turnaround) party, was close to the scene of the attack and attempted to assist those injured.
"The response of the security forces was very swift," said Dayan. "As soon as I heard the explosion I came to the scene to try and help the wounded. I think the suicide bomber himself absorbed some of the explosion in his body, and maybe that's why there were few injured," he said.
Dayan added: "This terror attack could have an effect on the (Israeli) elections. The issues of security, terrorism, and the Iranian threat are continuing to be dominant, and Israel needs a leadership that will provide both security and social solutions."
Knesset Member Yuval Steinitz said the attack should remind all Israelis that the Palestinian Authority is allowing terror attack to be carried out against Israel.
"(PA leader) Mahmoud Abbas must stop being complimented, and he must start dealing with terrorism. Israel must fight terrorism with determination," he said.
Al-Aqsa Brigades: Response to Israeli assassinations
Meanwhile, PA Secretary General Samir Halayla condemned the attack, saying it would harm Palestinians and undermine the upcoming PA elections.
"Israel responds harshly to attacks, and this harms Palestinians, and therefore no Palestinian group has the right to carry out operations of this type, which cause damage and harm the democratic process," he said.
Abu-Udai, a senior al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades member told Ynet the attack in Tel Aviv "is a blessed operation that comes in response to recent Israeli assassinations, the last of which is the assassination of the Hamas commander in Tul Karem.
Abu-Udai added the Palestinian people had a right to defend themselves against Israeli violations of the calm.
"The attack shows that the Palestinian resistance, despite all of Israel's security measures, is able to reach any place, any time, time after time," he said.
Ali Waked, Efrat Weiss, Avi Cohen and Ilan Marciano contributed to this report
