Israeli policemen search through the debris of the destroyed cafe

OCCUPIED JERUISALEM, September 10 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - At least 14 Israelis were killed and scores injured in back-to-back attacks in occupied Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Tuesday, September 9, few hours after Israeli occupation forces stormed the West Bank and killed three Palestinians, including a Hamas military wing leader.

A late-night explosion at a popular cafe in West Jerusalem left the bomber and seven people dead as well as some 40 others wounded, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Israeli police said a security guard had tried to prevent the bomber from entering a cafe at around 11:20 pm (2020 GMT), and that the attacker then blew himself up outside.

Ambulances rushed to the scene to treat the wounded, several of whom were in serious or critical condition.

The attack came some five hours after a blast near a military base killed seven Israeli soldiers in addition to the bomber. Medical sources had earlier said eight soldiers died.

The explosion went off in front of a bus stop near the Tzrifin Israeli Defense Force base, 15 kilometers south-east of Tel Aviv, frequently used by Israeli soldiers from the nearby military base.

Security forces were beefed up all along the Green Line that separates Israel from the West Bank, as well as at entrances to major cities, shopping areas, bus stops and schools.

The tightening of controls in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank imposed at the beginning of the week remained in place.

At the same time, Palestinians who just last week had been allowed to return to work in Israel were being turned back at the Erez crossing.

The attacks are the first in Israel since a failed assassination attempt by Israeli gunships against the spiritual leader of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and senior political leader Ismail Haneya.

Israel had been on high alert after threats of revenge operations by Hamas following Israeli attacks targeting its leaders, including the attempt on the life of Sheikh Yassin.

Israeli police said Wednesday they had information about several dozen attacks being prepared.

Yassin warned after the attack on Saturday in Gaza that Israel would "pay a high price".

‘Time Has Come’

Hamas hailed the bombings, saying the "moment has come for Israel to pay for its crimes".

"After the operations in Tel Aviv and occupied Al-Quds and despite the precautionary measures taken by the Zionists we say to them 'the time has come to pay for your daily crimes against the Palestinians,'" said a statement aired on the Arabic satellite television channel, Al-Jazeera.

"Rather than mere words we are using retaliation and vengeance," the statement added, stopping short of explicitly claiming responsibility for the attacks.

Two Palestinians killed earlier Tuesday in an Israeli army operation in the West Bank town of Al-Khalil were identified as the local head of Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing, and one of his aides, Palestinian security sources said.

Condemned

The White House Tuesday condemned the bombings and piled pressure on the Palestinians to crack down on extremism.

"We condemn these vicious acts in the strongest possible terms. Our condolences go to the families of the victims," said national security spokesman Sean McCormack.

Without explicitly naming Palestinian Premier-designate Ahmed Qorei, McCormack said the attacks showed that "it is important that the office of the prime minister and his cabinet have full authority to fight terror and crack down on corruption in the Palestinian areas."

Qorei had earlier condemned the "murderous act" near the Tzrifin military base, while Palestinian leaders called for a United Nations Security Council resolution to institute a new ceasefire.

Qorei is attempting to garner international backing before taking on the premier's job.

He is seeking to hammer out an Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire and not just a unilateral truce by Palestinian resistance factions.

The incumbent parliament speaker held talks with U.N. and European diplomats Tuesday before a 20-minute meeting with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

He said he had made no firm decision about whether to take the job, while Arafat advisor Nabil Abu Rudeina indicated that a final decision could be days away.

Sharon Cuts Short India Trip

In the meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel  Sharon decided to cut short his current visit to India to deal with the aftermath of the bombings.

Sharon had already delayed his arrival in India by a day after security fears foiled his plans to pay a private visit to the Taj Mahal, India's monument to love in the northern city of Agra.

The prime minister, who arrived in New Delhi on Monday night, had been due to fly to Bombay, India's western economic hub, on Thursday, the second anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States.

Thousands of Indians had taken to the streets across the country to protest Sharon’s visit to their country.