Syria denies role in Tel Aviv bombing, blames Israel

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Syria has strongly denied accusations by Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz that it had a hand in a Tel Aviv bombing later claimed by Islamic Jihad, which killed four Israelis as well as the bomber.

"Syria has no connection with this operation and the office of this movement is closed," a foreign ministry official said, asking not to be named. "We think that the Israeli Defence Minister's comments show that he knows the identity of the real perpetrator and that he's to be found inside Israel," the official said.



http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1311889.htm

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1. Syria and Israel should both blame Islamic Jihad. They are the

responsible party.

[oasis]

2. CNN Headline News reports that Israel holds Islamic Jihad responsible.

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3. This is why Syria made that statement

I'm not sure why the other article didn't mention this)

The Syrian denial was issued quickly after Israel's defense minister said Damascus and a Palestinian militant group based in Syria, Islamic Jihad, were behind the suicide attack. Islamic Jihad confirmed in a statement posted on its Web site that its military wing carried out the attack on the Stage nightclub. A purported official from the group's Damascus-based office, speaking from Lebanon, told The Associated Press that Islamic Jihad was responsible.

The group had initially denied responsibility in the attack.

A Syrian Foreign Ministry official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, said Syria "had nothing to do with the Tel Aviv operation and that this (Islamic Jihad) movement's office is closed in Syria."

Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz blamed Syria and Islamic Jihad but did not threaten retaliation against Damascus.

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/breaking_news/11001352.htm