The citizens of Netanya were on to him, well before he pressed the button. If this hadn't been the case and the guards at the entrance of the Sharon Mall had not blocked his way the disaster would probably have been 10 times worse.As it was, it was enough to produce the most ferocious Israeli reprisals of this eight-month conflict. Last night, for the first time since 1967, Israeli air force jets were sent in to bomb Palestinian targets on the West Bank and Gaza, killing at least 10 and signalling another substantial deterioration in the Middle East crisis.One target was Tulkarm, the bomber's home town. It is an Arab town just inside the West Bank, but 10 miles from Netanya, which explains why the palm-dotted resort has suffered three bomb attacks this year. It used to attract many tourists, and has plenty of Palestinian workers. Getting in despite the Israeli blockade is not a problem for the highly disciplined men of Hamas.The young extremist was a carpenter and like all Hamas recruits an intensely devout Muslim.
Before setting out on his mission, he prayed at a mosque, left his mother sweets and wrote a note about the inescapable need for a jihad.He was, inevitably, seen as a hero by the 18 per cent of Palestinians believed to support Hamas an increase of about a third since the intifada began The blast was huge. It stripped off 40 feet of glass from the entrance to the shopping centre Body parts were littered everywhere. The scene was unpleasantly familiar to those who have watched this war unfold. Once again a crowd of angry Israelis gathered behind the police lines, shouting "death to the Arabs"; once again, teams of Orthodox officials were picking up every human shred for burial.The bomber struck at about 11.30am, on the day of the week when Israelis were stocking up for the sabbath. Lior Kamissa, a security guard, said he was checking shoppers' bags at the mall entrance when the bomber approached. "I looked him in the eye, and he blew himself up," said Mr Kamissa from his hospital bed "I didn't see him push a button He just exploded and disappeared. I saw big fire coming from this man, and smoke." Another witness, Mr Seroussi, 27, whose hands were bandaged and body punctured by nails, said: "He was just looking around, waiting until a big enough crowd had gathered.
When the bomber saw there were enough people, he just looked at the sky and boom!"The attack was swiftly claimed by the military wing of Hamas which said it was to avenge this week's killing of five Palestinian policemen by Israeli troops at a checkpoint near Ramallah, an operation Israel conceded was a mistake. The guerrilla group also said it was vengeance for the killing of the bodyguard of the Hamas spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, in Gaza on Wednesday.And so the misery of this region goes on. The Palestinian leadership again condemned attacks on civilians; there is no doubt that some of its forces have taken part in the conflict inside the occupied territories, but it does not control Hamas. This has not satisfied Ariel Sharon, the Israeli Prime Minister He was elected to provide security. But his only solution has been to use more and more force, mostly directed at Mr Arafat and his security structures It has yet to work..
