Israeli jets hit back after suicide bombing

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- For the first time in the seven-month conflict, Israeli fighter jets were used against Palestinian targets Friday, after a suicide bomb killed six outside a crowded mall.

At least nine people died in the Israeli reprisals, which marked the first time since 1967 that the Israelis used jets to attack Palestinian targets in the West Bank and Gaza.

In a separate incident, Palestinian gunmen killed a Jewish settler outside Ramallah, in the West Bank.

The air raids came after a Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up outside a shopping mall in the coastal city of Netanya, killing five others with him. The militant Palestinian group Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, which injured about 100 others.

In response, U.S.-built F-16 jets struck Palestinian Authority police offices in Nablus, in the West Bank; the Ramallah offices of Force 17, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's elite guard; Force 17 facilities in Gaza; and the West Bank town of Tulkarem, the hometown of the Palestinian militant who carried out the Netanya bombing.

VIDEO CNN's Mike Hanna has more on the latest act of violence in the turbulent Mideast (May 18) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Sheila MacVicar has more on the continuing violence in the Mideast (May 16) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     Factfile Scenes from Friday's violence     AUDIO CNN's Mike Hanna: Diplomatic moves appear to be on hold 564K/52 sec. AIFF or WAV sound CNN's Sheila Macvicar: Bomb hidden in oversized blue coat 525K/48 sec. AIFF or WAV sound     ALSO U.N. Security Council delays action on Middle East CNN's Sheila MacVicar on the aftermath of the Israeli jet strikes

The raids killed a Force 17 member in Ramallah and eight people in Nablus. No deaths or injuries were immediately reported from the strikes in Gaza and Tulkarem.

Israel blames Palestinian Authority

Hamas said the Netanya bombing was the seventh of 10 suicide attacks they had planned. Hamas spokesman Mahmoud al-Zahaar said that as Israel continues what he called the occupation of Palestinian lands, "no one in Israel, no one in Palestine will be safe."

The bomber attracted the attention of security guards by wearing a bulky coat on a warm day: He set off his explosives when a guard prevented him from entering the mall, police said.

Israeli authorities said the toll could have been worse if the bomber had made it inside the crowded shopping center. Government spokesman Avi Pazner focused the blame on the Palestinian Authority.

"This is a terrible, murderous attack, the result of the propaganda incitement of the Palestinian Authority, of the policy of Arafat who liberated the Hamas terrorists," Pazner said.

The Palestinian Authority has condemned the killing of civilians, but Palestinian senior negotiator Saeb Erakat said Israeli strikes and restrictions on the Palestinian economy are fueling more attacks.

"They must look in the mirror to see the acts, the closures and the siege and the guns, helicopters, force and arrogance of power will not produce any results other than enlarging the violence and the counter-violence," Erakat said.

Annan critical of Israeli response

The Israeli use of advanced combat jets was seen as a serious step in the conflict with the Palestinians. Earlier attacks relied only on helicopter gunships or tanks.

Rescue workers retrieve a body from the rubble of a Palestinian security office in Ramallah

"The Israeli terror is a state terror, and they have declared they are willing to take new steps with the Palestinian people," Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said.

In Washington, Secretary of State Colin Powell said U.S. officials were "deeply disturbed at this new escalation of the violence."

"That's why it's even more important than ever before to get the cycle moving in the other direction," Powell said.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan criticized the Israeli response as "disproportionate" and "excessive" Friday, urging all parties to show restraint.

"The only way to escape from the present downward spiral lies through ending the violence and resuming negotiations aimed at comprehensive peaceful settlement based on relevant United Nations resolutions," Annan said. Both sides need to understand that "there can be no military solution to this conflict," he added.

Egypt and Jordan have been trying to restart peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. The United States also has submitted recommendations from a committee led by former Sen. George Mitchell to resume talks. But Shimon Peres, Israel's foreign minister, said every attack reduces the chances that the two sides will resume negotiations.

"They're endangering every attempt to build a block of peace again," Peres said. "This reduces very much the necessary trust for going back and negotiating with the responsible party."