Hizbullah's television station, Al-Manar, said the Islamic Jihad's military arm, the Jerusalem Brigades, made the claim in a telephone call to the station. The group later identified the attacker as 21-year-old Lutfi Amin Abu Salem, from the village of Kafr Rai, located between the West Bank towns of Jenin and Tulkarm. The group has carried out all four previous suicide bombings carried out since a joint cease-fire declaration in February 2005.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom: “The Palestinian leadership has not taken action against the terror organizations, allowing them to continue their murderous activity, and calls on these organizations to take part in the parliamentary elections. Israel will act against the terror organizations with all means at its disposal.”

• Statement on behalf of the Quartet (United Nations, United States, European Union, and Russian Federation) on the terrorist attack in Netanya - New York, 5 Dec 2005

Representatives of the Quartet - U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, U.K. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, High Representative for European Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, and European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner - consulted today on the situation in the Middle East.

The Quartet condemns today's terrorist attack in Netanya in the strongest possible terms. Representatives of Palestinian Islamic Jihad have claimed responsibility for the bombing through al-Manar television. The Quartet repeats its demand that the Syrian government take immediate action to close the offices of Palestinian Islamic Jihad and to prevent the use of its territory by armed groups engaged in terrorist acts.

The Quartet denounces all acts of terrorism and urges all parties to exercise restraint, avoid an escalation of violence, and keep the channels of communication open. The Quartet encourages and supports the Palestinian Authority's efforts to take immediate steps to prevent armed groups from acting against law and order and the policy of the Authority itself. The Quartet reiterates its support for efforts to assist the Palestinian Authority in the reform and restructuring of its security services.

The Quartet believes it is imperative that all involved act decisively to ensure that terror and violence are not allowed to undermine further progress in accordance with the Roadmap.

The Quartet will remain seized of these matters.

• EU Presidency condemns bombing in Israel (5 Dec 2005)

The United Kingdom, as Presidency of the European Union, today condemned the suicide attack in Netanya where at least five people were killed and dozens wounded. British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, said:

‘The Presidency utterly condemns this mindless act of terrorism in the strongest terms, and offers our deep condolences to the families of the victims and sympathies to the injured.

‘This was a cowardly attack yet again aimed at innocent civilians and at derailing the peace process. It is essential not to allow terrorists to succeed in sabotaging the recent peace efforts. I call on the PA to bring those responsible to justice, and to exert every effort to prevent such attacks in the future.

"This attack is an attempt to undermine the genuine progress that we have seen in recent months since the historic and successful disengagement from Gaza. A determined fight against terrorism is crucial for the search for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. I hope Israel and the PA will continue to strengthen their security co-operation.’

• US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (5 Dec 2005)

I'd like to start by just saying a few brief words about the bombing in Netanya this morning. Obviously, this kind of terrorist attack has to be condemned and condemned thoroughly. I believe that the Palestinian Authority has done so. I've spoken with Israeli officials. I intend to speak with Palestinians very soon.

Clearly, there are people who wish to arrest the potential progress toward peace that Israel and the Palestinians are trying to make. This does call upon the Palestinians to fight terror and to begin to deal with the terrorist organizations that are in their midst because clearly there are terrorist organizations who do not intend to be a part of a national consensus but rather intent to try to continue to kill innocent people.

• Haim Amram, 26, of Netanya, a security guard at the mall
• Alexandra Garmitzky, 65, of Netanya
• Daniel Golani, 45, of Nahariya
• Elia Rosen, 38, of Bat Hefer
• Keinan Tsuami, 20, of Petah Tikva

Haim Amram	Alexandra Garmitzky	Daniel Golani
Elia Rosen	Keinan Tsuami