Israel's defense minister accused Iran and Syria on Friday of masterminding a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv that wounded on Thursday some 20 people. A Syrian official dismissed the accusations.
Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for attacking a fast-food restaurant in southern Tel Aviv. After a late-night meeting with security officials, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said early Friday: "We have definitive proof that the financing of the terror attack ... came directly from Iran, while the planning was carried out in Syria."
He said the findings would be shared with American and European officials. Mofaz added Israel would tighten security around Nablus, the West Bank city where the bomber lived.
On his part, Faisal Sayegh, the director of Syria's state-run broadcast media, said Syria had "nothing to do with the operation."
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack and said it was an attempt to sabotage Wednesday's Palestinian vote. Islamic Jihad is not participating in the election.
