Fresh chaos in Mideast

Associated Press

NETANYA, Israel — A suicide bomber burst into a hotel dining room and blew himself up Wednesday just as Israelis dressed in their holiday best were sitting down to a Seder meal celebrating the Jewish Passover. At least 19 Israelis were killed and more than 120 were wounded.

The explosion tore through the ground floor of the Park Hotel in this northern coastal resort, blowing out walls and windows and overturning tables and chairs. Bits of rubble and wires dangled from the ceiling. In the chaos, one table remained standing, covered by a white cloth and with the elaborate Seder place settings still in place.

The Islamic militant group Hamas claimed responsibility for what Israeli government spokesman Gideon Meir called a "Passover massacre." The bomber, a 25-year-old Palestinian, had worked in Netanya hotels in the past.

The bombing in Netanya threatened to derail the latest U.S. truce mission, just hours after President Bush said his envoy to the region had made some progress. In later comments, Bush said "this callous, this cold-blooded killing, it must stop."

Israel, which had reluctantly accepted the latest U.S. cease-fire proposals, said it would have to reassess its policy and held Arafat responsible for the bombing. Police Minister Uzi Landau called for retaliation, saying the Palestinian Authority must be destroyed.

The Palestinian Authority said it "strongly condemned" the bombing, and that it would take tough measures against those involved. Palestinian security sources said Arafat ordered the arrests of four key militants in the West Bank.

The explosion occurred about 7:20 p.m. Wednesday, as dozens of guests in the Park Hotel along Netanya’s boardwalk settled down for the Passover Seder in the dining hall. Guests were dressed in their holiday best; the women in festive dresses, the men in white shirts and dark pants.

The bomber, carrying a large bag of explosives, made his way past an armed guard at the hotel entrance who did not consider him suspicious, Israel TV said. From the lobby, he ran toward the dining hall, where he blew himself up.