JERUSALEM – Today's suicide bombing in Tel Aviv that killed at least nine Israelis and wounded more than 60 others is Israel's fault and a "legitimate act of resistance," declared the Hamas terror group, which now heads the Palestinian government.

"[Today's bombing is] a natural result of the continued Israeli crimes against our people," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. "The Israeli occupation bears responsibility for the continuation of its aggression. Our people have every right to use all means to defend themselves."

A Palestinian suicide bomber today blew himself up in a crowded section of Tel Aviv as Israelis celebrated the fifth day of the Passover holiday. The blast ripped through a falafel restaurant just outside Tel Aviv's old central bus station, killing at least nine and injuring more than 60, at least 10 of them seriously. The same restaurant was hit by a suicide attack this past January, wounding 20 people.

The Islamic Jihad and Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terror groups took responsibility for today's attack. Both groups are openly funded by Iran. Al Aqsa is the military wing of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party.

Today's attack was the first suicide bombing in Israel since the Hamas terror group officially took over the Palestinian Authority two weeks ago. It is widely seen as a test for the new Hamas government.

Hamas leader Moussa abu Marzouk told reporters he was proud of the bombing.

"The Israeli side must feel what the Palestinian feels, and the Palestinian defends himself as much as he can," Marzouk said.

Ra'anan Gissin, a spokesman for acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said Israel holds the new Hamas government reponsible for the bombing.

"This Palestinian Authority, which has clearly defined itself as a terrorist entity, has tried to instigate terrorist support more than the previous one did, and we will act accordingly," Gissin said.

Meanwhile, Olmert continues to push ahead with his plan to withdraw from most of the West Bank. Israel this past summer unilaterally evacuated the Gaza Strip, which Hamas claimed was a victory for their "resistance operations."

The West Bank borders most major Israeli cities and is within rocket firing range of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Israel's international airport.

About 200,000 Jews live in the West Bank. A separation barrier, still under construction in certain areas, cordons off nearly 95 percent of the territory from Israel's pre-1967 borders. More than half the West Bank's Jewish residents reside on the side of the fence closest to Israel. About 80,000 more Jews live on the other side of the barrier. Olmert officials have stated the past few weeks the new prime minister plans to enforce a withdrawal from all 68 Jewish towns that fall outside the barrier.

In a widely circulated WND article, leaders of every major Palestinian terror organization warned they will soon launch a massive violent campaign against Israel focused mainly on West Bank Jewish communities.

One senior terrorist said now that Olmert announced a West Bank withdrawal, terrorism against Israel must be stepped up "to prove we are chasing out the Israelis like we did in Gaza."

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