JERUSALEM – While Israelis were burying casualties from this week's suicide bombing and over a dozen injured were still lying in hospitals – some in critical condition – a senior leader of a terror group reportedly involved in the attack told WND the blast just north of Tel Aviv was "legitimate" because all Israelis are "military targets, they are not civilians."

"As long as Israelis do not react against their government and its policy, we will never consider them as innocent civilians and they will always be a legitimate goal for our attacks," said Abu Carmel, a West Bank leader of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of PA President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party.

Abu Carmel was speaking to WND after a suicide bomber exploded in an open-air market in the coastal city of Hadera Wednesday, killing five people and wounding more than two dozen others. The attack was carried out in front of a falafel stand at the entrance to the market. Hadera has been a frequent target of bombings during the past five years.

The Islamic Jihad terror group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast, saying the bombing was retaliation for the death of one of its senior leader in an Israel Defense Forces raid in the West Bank earlier this week. Sources close to the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades told WND the group was involved in the attack as well.

Abu Carmel confirmed his group coordinates attacks with Islamic Jihad:

"I don't want to speak about [Wednesday's] attack, but we coordinate and collaborate very often. It is true that we have excellent relations with our brothers in the Islamic Jihad. We felicitate our brothers in their heroic attacks, and we promise not to leave them alone in the campaign that Israel is leading against them."

Abu Carmel emphasized his group considers Jews living anywhere in Israel legitimate military targets.

"Only the Palestinians, who get killed every day, are innocent civilians," Abu Carmel said.

Meanwhile, thousands of mourners turned out yesterday to pay their last respects at the respective funerals of the five Israelis killed.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced a "broad and nonstop offensive" against terrorism, pledging the Israeli Defense Forces response - which is primarily aimed at Islamic Jihad - would continue until terror attacks end.

Israel yesterday fired a rocket at two senior Islamic Jihad terrorists in northern Gaza, also reportedly killing four other Palestinians. Jihad pledged "harsh retaliation."

Earlier in the day, the IDF fired at suspected Qassam rocket factories and launching sites in Gaza, imposed tight closures of West Bank towns and arrested several wanted terrorists. The army also deployed ground troops outside Gaza for a possible ground incursion.

Abu Carmel warned the terror attacks would continue, saying his group may carry out additional bombings in the near future.

"It is possible that as solidarity with [Islamic Jihad] and as a response to Israeli crimes, we will lead our own [independent] attack inside Israel and in the coming period we will prove our position," Abu Carmel said.

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