Israel hits back after deadly bombing

Ramallah police station was hit by two missiles

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israel has carried out attacks on Palestinian positions in response to a suicide bomber who killed 15 people in Jerusalem.

The Israeli cabinet voted 9-3 on the retaliatory policy late Thursday on the grounds of "very basic rules of self defense."

The most potent symbolic action of the two-pronged attack was the capture of Orient House in the east part of Jerusalem.

It was the unofficial home of the Palestinian Liberation Organization as well as the Palestinian Authority's foreign ministry.

Israeli troops replaced the Palestinian flag, which had been flying over the site for may years, with their own, and also shut down a further seven buildings.

VIDEO CNN's Mike Hanna on Israel's retaliatory attacks on Palestinian positions (August 9) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Watch the aftermath of the suicide bomb attack in Jerusalem, reported by CNN's Jerrold Kessel (August 9) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   MORE STORIES • Incidents reported on West Bank, Gaza   • In focus: Suicide bombers heroes at home   • Israel, PLO welcome delay in closing of Orient House (1999)     EXTRA INFORMATION In-depth: Mideast struggle for peace   Map: Location of bombed pizza restaurant   Gallery: Scenes from the aftermath of the bomb     RESOURCES Statement from Islamic Jihad   President Bush condemns bombing in Jerusalem   On the scene: Kessel: Defiance dominates Israeli mood     AUDIO Palestinian Cabinet member Hanan Ashrawi reacts to what she calls "Israel's policy for deliberate assassination" 480k / WAV sound Israel's Internal Security Minister Uzi Landau responds to the suicide attack in Jerusalem. 4.1 mb / WAV sound

Meir Sheetrit, Israeli Justice Minister, said: "Tonight following the Cabinet decision, the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) and the police forces of Israel took a few actions against the Palestinian territory.

"The meaning of those actions is as a matter of fact to motivate the terror organizations and the PLO to start fulfilling its commitments and to cease violence against Israel."

Palestinian chief negotiator, Saeb Erakat said the raising of the Israeli flag was provocative.

"The sight of the Israeli flag on the Orient House will not be seen by the Palestinians other than major aggression against their nation ... against their aspirations, against their sovereignty," he said.

"Israel is really just inviting more bloodshed and enlarging the cycle of violence and counter-violence."

In addition to the Orient House action, Israeli F-16 warplanes fired at least two missiles into a Palestinian police station early on Friday near Ramallah, Israeli military sources said.

No one was injured in the attack, the Palestine Red Crescent Society added.

CNN's Jerrold Kessel said "some voices" in the Israeli Cabinet believe their country's policy could be "counterproductive."

Among those who voted against the policy were Labour ministers and foreign minister Shimon Peres

The attacks come hours after a suicide bomber blew himself up at a pizza restaurant in central Jerusalem Thursday lunchtime.

The death toll from the bombing rose to 16 on Friday when a woman died from injuries sustained. Five children were among those who died while up to 100 were injured.

The dead included Shoshana Greenbaum, 31, a pregnant schoolteacher who lived in New Jersey, United States, and was in Israel to get a master's degree in Jewish education. The funerals of two of the victims took place on Thursday, with more planned for Friday.

Her father, Alan Hayman, said from his home in Los Angeles: "Israel must act to preserve the lives of its citizens and we hope that President Bush will support Israel's efforts to defend itself and its own people."

Several hours after the blast, news agencies in Beirut received faxes from the Jerusalem Brigade of Islamic Jihad claiming responsibility for the attack.

The militant Palestinian group Hamas said it was responsible for the blast and released a picture of the man they say was the suicide bomber, Izzedine Shuhin al-Masri, 23, from the Palestinian town of Jenin on the West Bank.

The Hamas statement said al-Masri carried out the attack to avenge the Israeli killing of Hamas militants, specifically two killed last week in Nablus.

New Jersey teacher Judith Shoshana Greenbaum was among the victims

In a separate incident a teenage Israeli girl was killed and three other teenagers were injured, one seriously, when Palestinian gunmen opened fire on a car north of the West Bank town of Jenin on Thursday evening, police said.

Arafat issued a statement condemning the violence.

It said: "We call upon the Israeli government to join us in issuing a joint declaration for a comprehensive cease-fire to take place immediately and to begin implementation of the Mitchell recommendations under international supervision, expeditiously and immediately."

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said both sides must curb the violence and implement the Mitchell plan for a Middle East peace.

"Everybody knows what has to be done. The violence has to be brought down," said Powell.

The Mitchell plan calls for both sides to honor a cease-fire, put confidence-building measures into place and return to the negotiating table.