Suicide Bomber Murders Seven in Tel Aviv

An Islamic Jihad coward blew himself up at a restaurant in Tel Aviv:

A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up outside a fast-food restaurant in a bustling commercial area of Tel Aviv during the Passover holiday Monday, killing seven other people and wounding at least 49, police said.

A security guard posted outside the restaurant, the target of a suicide bombing in January, prevented Monday's bomber from entering the building, police said.

It was the first suicide attack in Israel since the Hamas militant group took over the Palestinian government 2 1/2 weeks ago. Hamas, which has killed hundreds of Israelis in attacks, has largely observed a cease-fire since February 2005.

The Islamic Jihad militant group, which is believed to be funded in part by Iran and refuses to observe a cease-fire, claimed responsibility in a telephone call to The Associated Press. The attack came a day after the group pledged to carry out more attacks.

Another attack during Passover. I can't wait to see how the detractors of Israel frame this attack on innocent civilians. Looks like they won't be able to portray Hamas as respectable:

Sami Abu Zuhri, a spokesman for the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said on Monday that the Tel Aviv attack was part of the Palestinians' right of self-defense."

Resisting Israeli aggression was rightful as long as it continues," Abu Zuhri said."

The occupation seized money of the Palestinian people and urged the world not to assist the Palestinians, so this attack took place before those who agree with this aggressive attitude," he said.

...Abu Zuhri was echoed by Wasfi Kabha, minister of Prisoners' Affairs in the Hamas-led cabinet.Kabha told reporters that the attack came "in the framework of legitimate right for resistance against Israeli violations and crimes."

Coincidently, Monday was Palestinian prisoners' day. Palestinian officials said there were more than 8,000 Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails, detention camps and prisons.

The Islamic Jihad (Holy War) and the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, linked to the Fatah movement (the group the media like to call "moderate"--ed), claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing attack.

A spokesman for Saraya al-Quds, the Islamic Jihad armed wing, told reporters on telephone that his group is responsible for the bombing attack in Tel Aviv.

The spokesman said that the attack was "natural response to daily crimes carried out by the Zionists against our people."