Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon accused Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's forces Sunday of taking part in attacks like the deadly bomb blast that rocked the northern Israeli town of Netanya, killing four people and injuring at least 50 others.
"Some of Mr. Arafat's most trusted forces are participating in these attacks. This is very serious in our eyes," he told reporters in Tel Aviv, said AFP.
"The government which I hope will be formed in a very short time will be able to find appropriate answers that will return security to the citizens of Israel," the hawkish Sharon said, echoing his campaign pledge ahead of his February 6 election victory.
Among the four killed was an 85-year-old former Israeli mayor, said Israeli media, identifying him as Naftali Din. He was the mayor of the nearby town of Tel Mond before 1970.
The other three were two Israeli women (aged 58 and 71), in addition to the suicide bomber, according to the official statement cited by Radio Israel
In earlier remarks, Sharon condemned as a "vile attack" a bomb blast in Netanya, north of Tel Aviv, that killed four people, including the suspected bomber, and wounded at least 64 others, reported AFP.
"This vile attack illustrates the need for us to be united and undivided. We face an uneasy period that demonstrates the importance of a national unity government," he said.
The attack was the fourth in Israel since Sharon's election as prime minister February 6.
AFP reported that the man exploded a bomb near a filling station in the heart of Netanya, while Radio Israel said that he tried to enter into the bus, but the driver did not open the door and then the bomber went into the crowd that stood nearby.
Police said the medium-sized bomb was in a handbag and exploded in a crowd of people standing in an open space, according to the radio.
Two of the injured were reported to be in critical condition, three in moderate condition and the rest sustained light injuries, said the radio.
Police have closed off the area and are searching for more explosive devices, the radio added.
It was the second bomb explosion in the city since the outbreak of the Intifada.
Police chief Shlomo Ahronishki told the radio that nine people, including Jews, were arrested in connection with the bombing.
The Jews were arrested in connection with the mob beating of a Palestinian in the area.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
However, the Islamic Resistance Hamas movement said that the attack represented a continuation of the "resistance" to Israeli occupation but it stopped short of claiming responsibility, according to AFP.
"It is difficult to know who is responsible for this brave action and all of the sons of our people stand together to defend their land and rights and holy places. These actions are self-defense and a resistance to occupation and to the Zionist terror against our people," Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, a Hamas leader in Gaza, told AFP.
"Hamas and the Brigades of Ezzedin al-Qassam have not stopped their actions, even in the most difficult situations, as a strategy to resist occupation," Rantisi said. "What was taken by force must be returned by force." -- -Albawaba.com
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