Sharon warns PA to act on terror
Cabinet not expected to order harsh response to Tel Aviv sucide bombing
JERUSALEM - “Contacts with the Palestinians will be frozen if the Authority does not take action against terror,” Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told cabinet ministers Sunday, two days after a suicide bomber killed four people and wounded dozens in Tel Aviv.
Sharon also said that although Israel knows for certain the order for the attack came from Islamic Jihad headquarters in Damascus, and not from inside the territories, the Palestinians are still to blame for the bombing.
"We are certain the attack was ordered by Islamic Jihad officials in Syria," Sharon said. "This fact does not free the Palestinian Authority from its responsibility and obligation to act against the partners of the terrorist."
There was no immediate Palestinian comment on Sharon's remarks. Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas strongly condemned the Tel Aviv bombing, the first deadly Palestinian attack in Israel since November, saying it was aimed at sabotaging peace efforts.
Palestinian militant groups rejected the truce announced at the Sharon-Abbas summit in Egypt but had said they would abide by the informal ceasefire that preceded the summit.
But despite Sharon’s strong words, no major military response to the bombing is expected, say senior political figures in Jerusalem.
In his first response to the attack, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz halted steps to transfer four West Bank cities to Palestinian security control, until the security situation is reassessed and Palestinian Authority moves against Islmaic Jihad and other terror groups can be considered.
Mofaz blamed Syria for the attack for allowing Islamic Jihad to continue its operations from Damascus.
Israel could act against Syria, says Deputy Defense Minister
Deputy Defense Minister Ze’ev Boim (Likud) told Israel Radio Sunday morning that Israel could act against Syria because the order to carry out the attack came from Damascus.
"Action by us against Syria is certainly possible. We have done it in the past," Boim said. "If (Syrian President Bashar) al-Assad needs another hint from us, then of course he will get it."
But Boim said growing international pressure and sanctions against Syria might be more effective than an Israeli strike.
Meanwhile, Syrian officials denied any connection with the attack.
“Syria has no connection whatsoever with the attack,” said a senior official in the Syrian Foreign Ministry. “The Islamic Jihad offices in Damascus are closed.”
A carefully-worded statement from Sharon's office
Friday night, about 90 minutes after the Tel Aviv bombing, the Sharon's office worked on formulating a statement to a press corps wanting to how Israel would respond.
“The Prime Minister is speaking with the defense minister and Shin Bet chief regarding steps Israel will take in wake of the attack,” the press release said.
The statement was carefully worded. It contained no attack on Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. It also did not include Israel’s usual demand the Palestinians dismantle terror organizations, confiscate their weapons, destroy the terror infrastructure and prevent them from operating freely.
Although senior figures in the Prime Minister’s Office indicated that “it is possible there will be no response to the attack,” the announcement signaled that many options are being considered, including the option of restraint, which perhaps tops the list.
Over the weekend a collective sigh of relief could be heard when it turned out the suicide bomber did not come from the Gaza Strip, which is under Palestinian control.
In Jerusalem, they searched for the guilty parties as far as possible from the Palestinian Authority's headquarters in Ramallah, hoping the attack was not carried out by one of the local terror groups, such as Hamas.
A major violation of the "hudna" (cease-fire) would only create a more complicated problem from Israel’s perspective. When it turned out that the attack was orchestrated from Damascus, there was relief in Jerusalem, because it meant no need to break ties with Abbas or carry out a showy military operation.
New proposal to investigate incitement
While Sunday’s weekly government meeting is focusing on the repercussions of the bombing, it will also include a discussion of increasing level of incitement among right-wing extremists opposed to disengagement plan, as well as a proposal to increase government support for ultra-Orthodox over the age of 23 engaged in full-time religious studies.
Participating in the discussion on the incitement issue will be Shin Bet Chief Avi Dichter, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz and other senior judicial officials. This discussion was scheduled a few weeks ago after a cabinet meeting during which threatening letters sent to ministers and members of Knesset were made known.
Justice Minister Tzipi Livni will present the government with a proposal to create a special unit in the ministry to investigate such incitement from extremist political elements.
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-Reuters contributed to this report
