GAZA CITY, 18 April 2006 — A Palestinian blew himself up outside a sandwich shop in Tel Aviv yesterday, killing nine people and injuring dozens. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack while Hamas, which runs the new Palestinian government, called it an act of “self-defense”. The Israeli government of Ehud Olmert said it held the Palestinian Authority responsible for the bombing.

It was the first bombing inside the Jewish state to kill Israelis since Olmert took over from Ariel Sharon, who was incapacitated by a massive stroke in early January.

An Arab television station aired a videotape showing a man from Islamic Jihad claiming he carried out the attack. “We tell the criminal enemy that there are more martyrdom-seekers, God willing,” said Sami Salim Hamad, 18, from near Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Family members said Hamad worked as a waiter in Jenin and told his employer on Sunday he would not be coming back to work.

Witnesses said they saw him just before the attack. “I saw a young guy, who was carrying a blue bag. He was stopped by a security guard who asked what was in the bag. He opened the bag and everything went up in the air,” witness Moussa Al-Zedad told Reuters Television at the scene.

Hamad said in his farewell video that he carried out the bombing as a gesture for thousands of Palestinians held in Israeli jails. Yesterday was marked in the Palestinian areas as Prisoners Day.

After learning of the bombing, the Hamads began moving furniture and belongings out of their home, for fear it would be demolished by the Israeli military.

Olmert said Israel would respond appropriately. “We will know how to respond in the way and manner required, and we will continue to act with all means at our disposal,” he said. Olmert spokesman Raanan Gissin said the government held the Palestinian Authority responsible.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri called the attack “a natural result of the continued Israeli crimes against our people”.

“Our people are in a state of self-defense and they have every right to use all means to defend themselves,” he said.

Ghazi Hamad, a Palestinian Cabinet spokesman, added: “The occupation bears the responsibility for its actions.”

Despite Hamas backing the bombing, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned it. “This attack violates the Palestinian national consensus and runs contrary to our interests,” a statement from Abbas’ office said.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said: “It is a despicable act of terror for which there is no excuse or justification.”

He also warned the Palestinian government against defending or sponsoring “terrorist acts.” “Defense or sponsorship of terrorist acts by officials of the Palestinian Cabinet will have the gravest effects on relations between the Palestinian Authority and all states seeking peace in the Middle East,” McClellan added.

A day after Iran said it was donating $50 million to the Palestinian Authority, Qatar yesterday said it was making a similar $50 million donation. The Qatari news agency QNA quoted a Foreign Ministry source as saying the payment covered Qatar’s share of contributions set to be offered in support of the Palestinian National Authority budget, in accordance with Arab League summit resolutions in Khartoum in March.

Hours later, the United States asked Doha to clarify details of the donation. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said he had seen public statements that Qatar planned to give the Palestinian Authority the funds and would like more information.

“We’d seek a little clarity from the government of Qatar as to exactly what their intentions are, to whom they actually intend to give this money and under what circumstances,” said McCormack.

— Additional input from agencies