Israel says it holds the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority responsible for Monday's suicide bombing in Tel Aviv. But sources say Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has decided not to authorize military action against the Palestinian government at this time. Participants at a meeting of Israel's security cabinet say Israel's response will focus on the northern West Bank and will target members of the militant group Islamic Jihad, which claimed responsibility for Monday's attack.
Hamas has defended the bombing, which killed nine people outside a fast food restaurant. Hamas calls it self-defense against Israeli crackdowns in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Israeli army and witnesses say Israeli troops have arrested 40 terror suspects in the northern West Bank in the past day. Witnesses near (the city of) Jenin say one of the detainees is the father of the suicide bomber.